Snow removal and paying it forward
It snowed, blocking our driveway and sidewalk. Keith is no longer able to get outside and scoop. After a day, I knew we were in violation of some city code. That made me uneasy. I wanted the walks cleared. To my relief, the sun came out and within another day, the snow on both driveway and sidewalk had melted away.
It wasn’t that many years ago, I took pictures of Keith as he scooped the walks bundled up in winter coat and warm hat. He scooped to clear the snow, but he had to clear the driveway so he could go to work at YRTC.
Often, my brother Paul, a local contractor, showed up with his little CAT. Paul loved that CAT and enjoyed clearing the parking lots for businesses. But that WAS business. Paul also liked to help others in need—especially with snow removal.
He’d show up with his machine, wave to Keith, signaling Keith could go inside. Then he’d remove snow from our driveway and sidewalk. He didn’t stop there. Sometimes he’d go to our neighbors and clear their walks and driveway as well.
When Keith’s health no longer allowed him to scoop, we were even more thankful for Paul’s diligence to help. In 2019, Paul died of a massive heart attack. The next winter, snow fell and we wondered who to call.
It ended up that we didn’t need to call anyone. Our neighbor showed up, and without a word, took his snowblower to our piled up snow. When we tried to thank our neighbors, we discovered they were basically “paying it forward.” They hadn’t realized Paul was my brother until after he passed away.
Winters came and our neighbor continued to take care of snow removal. Then this winter hit. Again we had snow. But this time, the snow didn’t melt away. No. The snow kept on coming, piling higher and higher. Our neighbors snow was piling up as well and we were concerned, especially since neither was answering their cell phones. We had to let it go since we didn’t know their family.
And we had more snow. We asked friends even our pastor for suggestions of whom to call. Finally, a friend gave us a name and number. I called. I left a message. Received no return call.
Then we received an email from our pastor. He’d spoken to a young man from church willing to remove our piled up, and by that time, packed down snow. The next morning, I called the number given. I woke him up. But he was pleasant and agreed to come over.
He came and with only a shovel, he cleared away the snow. Asked him to scoop for the neighbors as well. When he came inside after scooping, he said someone had scooped up most of our neighbor’s snow and he only had a little to scoop.
Of course, I paid him, though he refused to quote a price and didn’t seem to care if I paid him at all. Snow is a fact of life in a Nebraska winter. Looking back, I realized I sometimes worried for nothing. Yes, I needed to do my part, but, as He promised, God always provided.
Snow removal might seem a minor thing in the scheme of life, but maybe instead of hating others for being different, believing different or voting in ways we don’t like, we need to reach out with care and kindness and respect. Snow removal, lawn care, a kind word… Time to lift up by reaching out to lend a hand or speaking an encouraging word to someone in need. Time to heal instead of harm through words and actions. Will I. Will you?
© 2025 Carolyn R Scheidies
Published in Kearney Hub 3/12/2025 as Snow removal reveals great neighbors
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