NOT LEFT BEHIND

It was back in the day, hundreds of employees worked at the slaughterhouse and packing plant in the city.

Everyone came to work at the same time and left at the same time, five days a week.

It was past the usual quitting time of 4:00 pm on a Thursday when the security guard noticed that one employee had not yet left the building.

The guard told his coworker, "Mr. Johannes hasn’t left the building yet. That's very unusual."

The two walked around and did their surveillance. When they came to the packing department, they heard knocking from a freezer.

Mr. Johannes had accidentally locked himself in the freezer. He was shivering from the cold; his lips were blue, and his fingertips numb. The cold man figured he had been in the freezer for nearly two hours until the security guards found him.

"Thank you. God bless you. You saved my life." Mr. Johannes said with heartfelt relief.

They found industrial blankets and a space heater to help the man regain his normal body temperature.  After about an hour, he was back in good health, and Mr. Johannes left to return home to his waiting family.

The two security guards discussed what happened.

"I don't understand. Hundreds of workers leave work each day in a flood of bodies and faces. How did you happen to realize that Mr. Johannes was not among them?"

The guard answered. "You know how boring this job can be. I sit at my desk every morning as the workers come streaming in. They walk right past me without even a nod. 

Except for this one man. Mr. Johannes. He always takes the time to give me a big smile and say, 'How are you doing, Kenny? How's your family? Have a nice day.'  

It's always a cheerful goodbye at the end of the shift, too. 'Have a good evening.' Mr. Johannes wishes me well as he walks out the door. 

I never thought that a simple kindness could one day save a life!"