Single Mom of Four Buys Used Car, Owner Tells Her to Look In Trunk When She Gets Home — Story of the Day
Jennifer was a single mother of four young kids after her husband Adam left when he found out she was pregnant with their fourth child. “Another child to feed? No way! I’ve had enough!” he said one day, leaving their trailer and filing for divorce.
Jennifer was heartbroken. Although she and Adam had not intended to become parents, she had anticipated his support during this difficult period, particularly given their existing financial struggles.
After giving birth, Jennifer found herself compelled to seek employment, as her funds for essentials like food, diapers, and milk were dwindling. She traversed various restaurants and shops, only to face rejection from business owners who were hesitant to hire someone with four young children.
“It’s challenging to employ mothers with small children because unforeseen issues frequently arise. Whether it’s a sick child or a lack of childcare, it often leads to missed work. I apologize, but it’s more than we can manage,” one employer candidly explained to her.
With no opportunities available in her neighborhood, Jennifer began to explore job prospects in a nearby city. Utilizing her remaining funds, she took a taxi and arranged for her neighbors to care for her children for the afternoon.
Upon her arrival, she discovered a vacancy for a housekeeping position at a nearby hotel. She entered the establishment, submitted her application, and was promptly hired. “We are in urgent need of staff, particularly with the upcoming summer season. We expect to be fully booked in a few weeks,” the HR manager informed her.
In need of employment, Jennifer accepted the position, despite the requirement of commuting to a different city each day. She expressed her gratitude to the HR manager and returned home, where she shared the news of her new job with her children.
After spending nearly $30 on taxi fare, Jennifer realized that daily commuting was not financially sustainable. Although it would be more practical to drive her own vehicle, she lacked the funds to purchase one. She concluded that her best option would be to acquire a used car.
She located a vehicle but questioned whether the owner would be willing to sell it at a reduced price. “Would it be possible for you to sell me this car for $5000? I am a single mother of four, and it has been challenging for me to make ends meet. I was hoping to acquire a car to commute to a job in a nearby city,” she confessed.
Upon learning that she was raising four young children alone, the owner consented to sell the car for $5000. “If you can finalize the purchase by tomorrow, I can offer it to you for that amount,” he informed her.
Jennifer felt immense gratitude towards the owner for his willingness to lower the price. She decided to take a risk and applied for a loan at the bank to secure the car the next day. Unfortunately, her application was swiftly denied due to her poor credit history.
As her options dwindled, Jennifer contemplated her next steps. Relocating to a new city was not feasible, as her eldest child, Ethan, had just begun school in the vicinity of their trailer park.
Additionally, rent in the nearby city was significantly higher, and she would not be able to take the trailer with her. A vehicle was essential for commuting to work and for transporting her children to school and daycare.
Then, she recalled the family heirloom left to her by her late mother—a gold chain necklace that had been passed down through generations. The thought of selling it brought tears to her eyes, but she recognized the necessity of doing so to ensure a better future for her children.
With a heavy heart, Jennifer retrieved the gold chain necklace from her trinket box and made her way to a nearby pawnshop. “I’m sorry, Mom. I truly need to do this right now,” she spoke softly to herself.
Upon arriving at the pawnshop, the necklace was appraised at $5500. Jennifer was overjoyed; this amount would not only cover the cost of the car but also leave her with some funds for their daily expenses.
The next day, she returned to the used car dealership and presented the owner with an envelope containing $5000. “Thank you for agreeing to sell this to me, sir. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
The proprietor, who identified himself as Jeff, offered a warm smile. “Congratulations on your new vehicle. This is a remarkable acquisition,” he remarked to her.
As Jennifer completed the necessary paperwork for the transaction, Jeff subtly placed an item in the trunk of the car. Just as Jennifer was about to drive away, he called out to her.
“By the way, when you get home, please check the trunk. I have left something for your children,” he said, waving goodbye as she departed.
After purchasing the car, Jennifer became preoccupied with commuting to her job and taking her children to school and daycare, which caused her to completely overlook checking the trunk until she discovered a note in the glove compartment.
“I hope you and your children enjoy the gift I left in the trunk. I trust it will be of great assistance to you.” Taken aback, she decided to open the trunk to see what the gift was.
Initially, Jennifer felt perplexed when she noticed only a white envelope resting on one side of the trunk. It soon dawned on her that it was the same envelope she had used to place her payment for the vehicle. Upon opening it, she discovered her $5000 intact.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jennifer found herself in tears, astonished by the man’s generous act. After finishing work, she drove directly to the used car dealership to express her gratitude to Jeff for his kindness.
“The world presents us with various challenges, and it is our choice to either overcome them or be defeated by them. I commend you for your resilience in supporting your children, and I believed you could benefit from this money more than I could. Just remember to extend that kindness to others,” Jeff advised her.
What can we learn from this story?
Compassion can have a significant impact. Jeff operated a successful used car dealership, generating substantial profits, whereas Jennifer faced challenges as a single mother of four young children. Upon learning of her situation, Jeff chose to extend his support to Jennifer in a manner that aligned with his capabilities.
Where there is determination, there is a path. Jennifer was resolute in her commitment to labor diligently in order to provide for her children. She exerted every effort to achieve this goal, despite facing numerous rejections and obstacles throughout her journey.
Share this story with your loved ones. It might inspire them and make their day