What Does Today Mean to You?

On Saturday morning, October 3, in Sharpsburg, I walked around a busy auto shop with my phone in hand and asked our Real Life Center clients one simple question: "What does today mean to you?"

I was not prepared for what happened next. Almost every person I asked had to pause before answering. Eyes filled with tears. Voices caught. One woman told me, "I can't put it in words. No word in this world exists for the gratitude."

That Saturday was our annual Christian Brothers Automotive Day, and it was one of the most beautiful pictures of neighborly love I have ever witnessed.

Every year, the team at Christian Brothers Automotive in Sharpsburg, Georgia, opens their shop on a Saturday, a day they are normally closed, for one purpose: to serve Real Life Center clients. Our staff identifies neighbors who could truly use the help, and Christian Brothers takes it from there.

This year, they served approximately 25 clients. And they did not stop at the car.

• Free oil changes and repairs, with both the labor and the parts covered
• Breakfast and lunch for every client while they waited
• A bounce house so the children of our clients could play while their parents were cared for

For families who are choosing between gas and groceries, a reliable car is not a luxury. It is how they get to work, to school, to doctor appointments, and to the Real Life Center Market each week. When a car breaks down, everything else can break down with it.

One client, a single mom of three children ages 3, 6, and 15, told me that car trouble brings a wave of anxiety. She lost her dad in 2024, and since then she has felt like no one has her back when something goes wrong.

"Then Christian Brothers called me. She said, 'Do you need an oil change?' I was like, yes, it's three months over."

When she pulled in, her gas light was on. She planned to stop for a few dollars of gas on the way home. Instead, the team filled her tank.

"Everything is a sacrifice. You have to decide, do I just put a few dollars of gas in here? I have to have money for other things."

She also shared what it felt like to walk into a repair shop and not be afraid of being taken advantage of: "To know that you're going to be taken care of, it was just amazing. I just feel the love of God in here, and it's a good feeling."

Marian has been coming to the Real Life Center since April. She is currently out of work and driving an older Tahoe with a serious oil leak, going through a quart of oil every three to five days.

"When Christian Brothers called me, I was just like, 'Oh, thank you, Jesus.' I can see every little bit of the Lord coming to me. Thanks to the Real Life Center."

She was nervous about what the repair might cost. I was able to tell her that Christian Brothers would look at her car and would not charge her. "If they fix this problem, that is an easy $2,300," she said. "I'm struggling to pay rent. Everything else. This is such a blessing."

Another client told me she thought her car was about to fall apart. Christian Brothers changed her oil and found that her motor mounts were wearing out. They told her to keep an eye on it and call if the check engine light came back on.

"They said, 'We've got you.' They're so wonderful. Christian Brothers and Real Life Center will always be in my prayers."

Patrice came in with sticking brakes. The team took care of her brakes, a belt, a wheel bearing, and an oil change. "They really are a godsend," she said, "and I appreciate them very much."

One woman met the Christian Brothers team at last year's event. Living with a disability after years of working, she was not sure how she would get around once her car needed the shop. Then the phone rang.

"As soon as I needed to put the car in the shop, someone called me and told me they were from the Real Life Center. They've been a blessing to me, always. I'm here with confidence because of you guys."

Of all the answers I heard that day, one has stayed with me most. It came from a client who was honest enough to tell me she does not consider herself a believer.

"A lot of churches and Christian people are like, 'Oh, I'll pray for you,' and it's like, no actions given. Y'all put your money where your mouth is. Y'all really work hard to literally walk like Jesus. Actually do what you say you're gonna do and follow through. And that's really hard to find these days."

That is what Christian Brothers Automotive did. They opened their doors on their day off, fixed cars at no cost, fed families, and made sure the kids had fun while their parents were cared for. They did not just talk about loving their neighbors. They showed it, one oil change and one full gas tank at a time.

At the Real Life Center, our heart is to meet real needs and to share the love of Christ while we do it. Partners like Christian Brothers make that possible in ways we could never accomplish alone.

To the entire team at Christian Brothers Automotive in Sharpsburg: thank you. You gave our neighbors much more than car repairs. You gave them relief, dignity, and a reason to believe someone has their back.

The neighbors you met in this post are not just numbers. They are moms, workers, and families right here in Coweta and Fayette counties doing their best to stay on their feet. Every week, the Real Life Center provides the necessities for stable living: groceries from our Market, job support, financial assistance, and a community that walks alongside them.
We cannot do it without you. When you give to the Real Life Center, you help a single mom keep food on the table, help a neighbor keep a roof overhead, and help a family breathe a little easier.

Will you give today? Your gift, of any size, helps us meet real needs and share the love of Christ with our neighbors. Give online at reallifecenter.org.