Earlier this week, I experienced something that really touched my heart. I shared it with a few people & they were equally as moved by it- so now I’m sharing it with you.
A few days ago, I went to the grocery store. While I was putting the grocery bags in the car, a lady approached me. First, she asked if she could approach me. She introduced herself, and said she’d been homeless for 9 days. She said she had 14 staples in her stomach and offered to lift up her top to show me. I told her she didn’t need to. The staples were a result of abuse suffered at the hands of her husband.
She’s on a waiting list to get into a homeless shelter, she offered to show me the intake paperwork, I told her that wasn’t necessary. She said she was trying to get $40, so she could get a hotel room for the night for her & her 4 kids. She said they could clean my windows or do something else for me. She was begging, pleading with me. “Please don’t let us sleep outside tonight.” I’ve been approached by many people in the past, asking me for money. I don’t ever give them any (although I have given to homeless people that didn’t ask me for money before). This time it was different. I believed what she was telling me.
She offered to take my cart back for me, I told her sure. As she was taking it back, I pulled out a $100 bill that I’d been carrying around in my purse forever. When she walked back over to me, I handed it to her. I told her I’d been saving it for a rainy day. When she saw what it was, her face lit up. We hugged, and I told her to take care of herself. She said she would, she thanked me, wished me a Merry Christmas. My eyes were filled with tears. She said, “Dont make me cry!” Then she said, “God is so good, I knew there were still good people out here.” I got into my car and started driving away, she waved to me and blew me a kiss. I will probably never know if her story was true or not, but if I was in that situation; I’d want someone to help me. That’s all that matters, I did unto others as I’d want them to do unto me.
Because of the many struggles I’ve experienced in life, I have a desire to help women & children. I just never thought I’d be doing it in a grocery store parking lot. No matter what we’re going through, there is always someone who has it worse than us. As I drove home, tears were running down my cheeks, you see, I know all to well what it’s like to be with an abusive partner. God steered that woman towards me for a reason- He knew I’d believe her & help her out. I’m so thankful that He used me to be a blessing to others.
