When we think of the military, we often picture brave men and women risking their lives for our country. But there’s an untold side of the story that deserves recognition.
The soldiers who protect our nation have lives, homes, and families that they have to leave behind for long periods of time. It’s an incredibly tough situation for both the soldiers and their families, but they find ways to endure.
One military wife, Bridget Stevens, knows this struggle all too well.
It was winter in her Pennsylvania home when her heater broke down, leaving her and her children shivering in the cold. With little money to spare, she had no choice but to reach out to Betlyn’s Heating and Cooling for help.
Betlyn’s owner, Paul, tried troubleshooting the issue over the phone, but nothing seemed to work. So, he decided to go to Bridget’s home to fix the heater himself. It was then that Bridget revealed that her husband, who typically handled household repairs, was currently deployed.
Once Paul finished the repairs, Bridget hesitantly looked at the bill. To her astonishment, she saw something unexpected.
The bill had a note that said, “No heat evening call. Deployment discount $1.00.”
Paul refused to accept any payment and simply asked Bridget to thank her husband for his service.
Bridget shared her heartwarming story on Facebook, expressing her gratitude to Betlyn Heating and Cooling. Her post read:
“This is a bit lengthy, but I just want to take a minute to acknowledge Betlyn Heating and Cooling. I came home with the boys to a cold house that was 50 degrees. When turning up the thermostat was not kicking the furnace on, I called Betlyn’s, thinking I’d get a machine and have to leave a message, then run to the store for space heaters.
Ultimately, Paul, the owner, answered and was very patient as he walked me through different things to do to try to get it back on. When none of that worked, he said he needed to come to the house to fix it.
As he was working on the furnace, we got to talking about Bobby and the deployment. I had mentioned in passing that I tried to figure it out with my husband, but since he’s deployed and couldn’t see it, he wouldn’t know what to do.
After he was finished, I was a little apprehensive about how much it was going to cost. He handed me the slip that is in this photo. When I tried to give him any money at all, he said that the $1 was a joke, and to thank my husband for his service.
So, thanks Paul Betlyn. My house is nice and warm thanks to you.”
This beautiful act of kindness has inspired countless other acts of generosity, thanks to proud Americans sharing Bridget’s story.
If you support our troops, share this heartwarming story using the buttons below. Let’s spread the message of gratitude and honor for those who protect our freedom.
