Weld County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Deputy Sam Brownlee was killed in the line of duty in 2010, leaving behind two sons: Tanner (age 19) and Chase (age 16).
Tanner learned that his father’s patrol car was going to be auctioned off to raise money for the Concerns of Police Survivors, a group that aids fallen officer’s families. He saw an opportunity to obtain something that had meant a lot to his Dad – a useful keepsake that he would treasure.
Tanner and his brother needed some funds to make a bid on the car, so they started a GoFundMe page. They were able to raise $3,340. On the day of the auction, Tanner made a bid, but other bids greatly surpassed his offer. According to Kelly Blue Book, the value of the Dodge Charger was $12,500. But the winning bid, made by local rancher Steve Wells, was $60,000.
But then Wells took the keys and walked over to Tanner and said, “Here’s your car.” Then Wells hugged him. Tanner was stunned and overwhelmed with joy.
“This is just so huge. I mean, me and my dad built a fence and stuff, but having something I can use and drive around that he drove around, it just means a lot,” Tanner told CBS affiliate KCNC.
Tanner relayed to the Greeley (Colorado) Tribune what the car meant to him: “I remember he was always cleaning it when he brought it home during the week,” Tanner said. “He absolutely loved that car. I want to honor his legacy by showing him I’m growing into a man and that I can handle the responsibility of taking care of his car.”
Thanks to Steve Wells, Tanner was given the car and the opportunity to honor his father’s legacy. *
There is a gift that has been offered to each and every one of us. It is the gift of salvation that leads to eternal life.
We don’t deserve the gift. In fact, what we deserve is death, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).
But God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).
God will forgive and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
No, we don’t deserve it, but I pray that each of us will accept the Gift on His terms, and then seek to honor the One who gave His life for us by living for Him all of our days.
— David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from “The unexpected twist after son of fallen deputy is outbid for his late father’s cruiser” by Elahe Izadi in The Washington Post, May 14, 2015, in www.washingtonpost.com
