An officer's kindness, care and advice during a traffic stop inspired a driver to change her life.
Most people drive daily and can do so while concentrating or thinking about other things. When this happens, and our minds wander, our feet can get a little heavy. Exceeding the speed limit is an activity that most drivers, if they are being completely honest with themselves, do at some point.
Unfortunately, traveling above the posted speed limit can result in being pulled over by a member of law enforcement. Is there a scarier or more adrenaline-inducing sight than seeing those blue and red flashing lights in your rearview mirror? No one wants a ticket, but when speeding, that is what often happens to motorists.
However, instead of a speeding ticket, the responding officer treated one motorist with kindness and gave her helpful advice. A clip posted on YouTube explains how the officer's kind words and understanding actions helped one young woman improve her life.
The woman, 20-year-old Abbie Rutledge, was pulled over for speeding. But that traffic stop led to a discussion with the trooper, J.T. Brown. Abbie explained that she was broke and could not afford to pay a speeding ticket. The two of them discussed possible career paths for the young woman.
Instead of a ticket, Trooper Brown gave Abbie a warning and a message.
"Promise me you'll go scrub or nursing school & school & slow down, & I won't give you a ticket," the note said.
Well, Abbie took the trooper's advice and kindness seriously. Abbie is now a surgical technician at the University of Alabama, Birmingham Hospital. The trooper even attended Abbie's graduation ceremony.
"Five minutes talking to anybody, even if you don't know them, can make the largest impact on their life ever," Abbie said.
Abbie's change significantly moved the trooper and how she took his advice and kindness to heart.
"She made my entire career worth it. She did," Trooper Brown said.
Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ has forgiveness for you."