Editor:

I just got off the phone a few minutes ago and I want to cry over the profound and unexpected kindness I have received from a local business. I want to express a big ol’ Texas “thank you” to someone who, in these hard economic times, did something truly worthy of merit, something that truly caught me by surprise in a big way.

I was in a motorcycle accident in 2008 and ended up losing my leg. I moved to the Smithville area and onto a very rural piece property that my dad provided me last July. I rely on disability checks and graphic design freelance work but still find it hard to make ends meet. No one has previously lived on this property and so I have been renovating while basically camping out.

I finally got power to the land last month and have been using a portable outhouse since arriving.

It took me nearly a year to get together the money to finally get power to the land and the event left my already strained resources a bit short this month. I called Jackpot Portable Toilets and Septic Service in Bastrop, to inform them I wasn’t dodging my bills and made arrangements to pay my fee next month. I spoke with Jenny, the office manager and she said yes, that it was okay for me to do so.

This in of itself was much appreciated, but what happened next nearly put me in tears. Jenny called back and said, “I just talked to J.J. (the owner) and he wanted to thank you for the way you handled yourself and calling in to be accountable, and he said that we are just going to waive your bill for this month, and next month you can pick back up and we will start a new bill then.”

I was really moved. I have been praying all week that God would help me with this bill. I told her, God Bless you, and God Bless JJ and please tell him I said so.   That was a really big thing he did and I meant it, I do pray God to bless him and all in that company.

For a business that provides a service for money, to take time out and make their business to be about people, well, you can see why I was moved.

I just really wanted to say thank you in a manner comparable to the act performed. I am truly, truly humbled.

Billy Steven Crider

Smithville