Grieving 85-year-old widow asked for firewood. The company boss showed up with it for free — her reaction was priceless
One simple act of kindness can mean the world to a person fighting the toughest battles. The owner of a tree removal company, Paul Brittain, did something similar for an 85-year-old widow, leaving her in tears. Brittain (@paul_teambts) posted a video on TikTok, sharing that he received a call from an elderly woman asking for firewood to stay warm just days before Christmas. In the clip, which has received over 1.2 million views, Brittain explained that the lady, Nana Abernathy, had run out of firewood and was facing financial hardships. Even though the woman promised him she would pay next week, Brittain made up his mind and not only gave her firewood but also provided other services out of generosity.
@paul_teambts Helping a widow women today! She was so happy to receive this gift! Y’all enjoy #foryou #4u #hope #jesus #fyp ♬ original sound - Paul Brittain
In the video, he shared, “She said she could pay us next Wednesday for a load of firewood. I told her we'd get it out here today. Little does she know, we ain't going to charge her.” When Brittain and his team drove to her home, he explained why this decision mattered to him, expressing that “sometimes you gotta give back to others.” He said, “We've been blessed. We're in some slow months right now, but there ain't no better feeling than giving to somebody that's in need of it.”
When they arrived at Abernathy's place, she was still in bed, trying to stay warm. A small fire burned inside, but there was barely any wood left. She just had a few sticks. When the woman came outside, she appeared frail and exhausted. While they were discussing where to unload the wood, Abernathy expressed, “I ain't doing too good today.” That’s when Brittain said something she wasn’t expecting. He revealed, “I was going to let you know that we're going to give you this load of wood for free. I ain't coming back for no money.” She immediately reacted and asked in disbelief, “You ain't going to?” Brittain then explained to her that the wood is free and she doesn’t need to pay anything for it. Overwhelmed by the gesture, Abernathy agreed to a hug and said, “That's the nicest Christmas present I could get.” Brittain replied, “It’s all for you. Merry Christmas.”
Back at the truck, Brittain explained that the firewood had been cut into smaller pieces to make it easier for her to carry and use. “That way she can handle it nice and… it'll be easy on her,” he said. When the business owner realized the condition of her home, his team decided to do more. In a follow-up video, he revealed that they helped fix a leaking section of her roof, repaired her heating unit to ensure it would work through the winter, and later arranged for new tires to be put on her car.
Brittain expressed that the moment left him emotional. “Giving to others, man. You can't get another feeling like that. It had me in tears,” he said. Abernathy was deeply moved. “She said the Lord just blessed her immensely,” Brittain shared. An update was later shared that Brittain raised nearly $20,000 for the helpless woman. The video earned praise from users on social media. “Nana Abernathy is so sweet. Thank you for blessing her and helping to keep her warm,” commented @jojo.lu78. “This poor lady is crying over the kindness of getting the wood she needs for heat to survive! It’s heartbreaking,” noted @patience1975. @user7195120028882 expressed, “Thank you so much for helping her.”
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