Down Trade, Onto College, Stop at 9th

"Tonight after I logged off from work the little man asked if we could go for a ride uptown. We ventured uptown driving down Trade and onto College St. I made it to the light at 9th and was stopped at the light.

I noticed a homeless lady walking with a blanket in hand. She walked up to my car and through my window I told her I couldn't help. She walked to the car stopped next to me and I guess the driver said the same. She shuffled back to the side of the road and burst into tears.

I turned left onto 9th and looked back as she sat there with her head in her hands crying. I felt convicted. I was talking to the Lord and he made me stop and go back to her. I asked how I could help. She said she was tired of sleeping on the streets and her feet hurt. She wanted to take a bath, have a good night's rest and she didn't want to sell her body. She was $16 short of having enough for a hotel room.

The Holy Spirit was still talking to me. I only move when He tells me. I told her I don't normally carry cash but I would give her whatever I had in my purse. As I was talking to her she shared that her and her male kids were sleeping on the street and she had found a home for her girls. Her boys were around the corner if I needed proof. I told her no that was not necessary.

She said she moved here from SC and when her mom passed they lost the house. As I was listening to her, I kept finding cash in the purse that never has cash. I found 15 1's, a 5 and a 20. The Holy Spirit told me to give it to her. I told her she now has enough for at least 2 good nights of sleep. It wasn't much but it was all I had in a purse that almost never holds cash.

To see a mom crying the way she was just broke my heart. To hear her say she did not want to sacrifice her dignity to secure a place to sleep broke my heart. We have to give God the glory for the small things. The next time we decide to grumble and complain about what we don't have, remember there are parents living on the streets with their children.

These parents are getting by the best way they know how. Pray for them. Pray for protection. Pray for guidance. Pray for discernment. Pray for each other. I apologize for the long post but this has me wishing I could have given her more. I thank God for leading us down Trade, onto College and stopped us at 9th. I told Landon our day's mission is complete! God sent us there to bless the lady. Thank you Lord!"

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16

- Contributed by AW