A very dear friend of mine wrote of an experience she encountered that should be an inspiration to us all, sick or not. This is her story reprinted with her permission.
"I just wanted to share an incredible story of the love of God I saw in a homeless woman.
I had seen this car off and on in an abandon parking lot for about a month. I had thought of stopping several times but was too busy or afraid I would not know what to say or how to relate to this person.
So tonight I left work late again, feeling sorry for myself for working such long hours for the past month and feeling no so thankful for my life. I told God I was sorry because I know I am bless but still had a bit of a pity party going on inside my head. As I approached where this lady parked I prayed for strength to stop and wisdom to know what to say. God showed me he took care of it all.
So I pull in an park beside this car that looks like it should be in the junk yard that has a big sign HOMELESS. I introduced myself and shook the ladies hand. She apologized for being reluctant to shake my hand and did not want to explain why it was an issue just a ghost from the past. I without even thinking (totally a God thing) sat down next to her car on the pavement sitting Indian style so I could hear her better without the traffic noise. It was so incredible. This woman had the JOY of God in her. She had a radiant smile even when telling me her story. Very into the Bible and God this woman is.
Her story is this: She asked her husband to let God into their lives and he was not a Christian so he divorced her. She has four children and then became ill. The doctors do not know what she has but fear it may be bone cancer. She lost her job because she was ill so much of the time and of course then lost her insurance. She had no money and needed help for her children so she called her ex-husband to see if he could help until she could get back on her feet. Instead he obtained a lawyer and because she could not provide for the children he now has sole custody. He then moved to Pennsylvania (they were from another State) so the kids would not be influence by their mother (primary purpose I feel was to keep her from talking about God). She drove here 4 months ago in her beat up little car to be where she could at least see her children. She eats and sleeps in this car. It has no heat and a cracked windshield. It eats oil like M&Ms.
We talked for 1 1/2 hours but it seemed like only a few minutes. She went on and on about the love of God, the joy we are going to have in Heaven, and how important it is to love one another. One man stopped and had picked tomatoes and cucumbers from his garden for her. She was thrilled and then handed me some, I declined but she insisted that I take some as they would spoil before she could eat them all. Then she shared her favorite recipes with me. She is such an enthusiasticjoyful person.
Another young man with tattoos stopped and gave her some money and kept apologizing that he did not have more for her (I lost my stereotype about tattoos and the people who have them in one second). Another couple stopped just to talk to her. And the third man stopped and listen to her praise God and he gave her $20. She was thrilled because now she had enough money to get her Pennsylvania plates and would not be fined by the police.
I offered to have her come sleep in a warm cozy bed at my house. She declined 1) because she did not know me and explained you learn to be safe and 2) I have a dog and she is deathly allergic to dogs and cats. I was totally humbled by hearing this woman's story and embarrassed that I had been whining about my blessed life. God does teach us humility.
Incredible. We all have struggles in our lives. Some of us just know how to pick ourselves up better than others. A lesson to be learned here. Nancy is an inspiration in herself and yet she finds inspiration in others, all through the love of God. My pity party is done for a while. I lift my troubles back up to the Lord. I will open my eyes and my heart for all the inspirations that surrounds me. I have seen them too, just not acknowledged them as I should.
So tonight I left work late again, feeling sorry for myself for working such long hours for the past month and feeling no so thankful for my life. I told God I was sorry because I know I am bless but still had a bit of a pity party going on inside my head. As I approached where this lady parked I prayed for strength to stop and wisdom to know what to say. God showed me he took care of it all.
So I pull in an park beside this car that looks like it should be in the junk yard that has a big sign HOMELESS. I introduced myself and shook the ladies hand. She apologized for being reluctant to shake my hand and did not want to explain why it was an issue just a ghost from the past. I without even thinking (totally a God thing) sat down next to her car on the pavement sitting Indian style so I could hear her better without the traffic noise. It was so incredible. This woman had the JOY of God in her. She had a radiant smile even when telling me her story. Very into the Bible and God this woman is.
Her story is this: She asked her husband to let God into their lives and he was not a Christian so he divorced her. She has four children and then became ill. The doctors do not know what she has but fear it may be bone cancer. She lost her job because she was ill so much of the time and of course then lost her insurance. She had no money and needed help for her children so she called her ex-husband to see if he could help until she could get back on her feet. Instead he obtained a lawyer and because she could not provide for the children he now has sole custody. He then moved to Pennsylvania (they were from another State) so the kids would not be influence by their mother (primary purpose I feel was to keep her from talking about God). She drove here 4 months ago in her beat up little car to be where she could at least see her children. She eats and sleeps in this car. It has no heat and a cracked windshield. It eats oil like M&Ms.
We talked for 1 1/2 hours but it seemed like only a few minutes. She went on and on about the love of God, the joy we are going to have in Heaven, and how important it is to love one another. One man stopped and had picked tomatoes and cucumbers from his garden for her. She was thrilled and then handed me some, I declined but she insisted that I take some as they would spoil before she could eat them all. Then she shared her favorite recipes with me. She is such an enthusiasticjoyful person.
Another young man with tattoos stopped and gave her some money and kept apologizing that he did not have more for her (I lost my stereotype about tattoos and the people who have them in one second). Another couple stopped just to talk to her. And the third man stopped and listen to her praise God and he gave her $20. She was thrilled because now she had enough money to get her Pennsylvania plates and would not be fined by the police.
I offered to have her come sleep in a warm cozy bed at my house. She declined 1) because she did not know me and explained you learn to be safe and 2) I have a dog and she is deathly allergic to dogs and cats. I was totally humbled by hearing this woman's story and embarrassed that I had been whining about my blessed life. God does teach us humility.
This woman kept praising God for everything. I thought of her circumstances and thought, " I would be a basket case". But her she was singing God's praises. I was whining about my great life and she has nothing and praises God in every sentence and with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She is such a champion. Wow, I would love to have that kind of love for God. How about you."~~Nancy Rogers
Incredible. We all have struggles in our lives. Some of us just know how to pick ourselves up better than others. A lesson to be learned here. Nancy is an inspiration in herself and yet she finds inspiration in others, all through the love of God. My pity party is done for a while. I lift my troubles back up to the Lord. I will open my eyes and my heart for all the inspirations that surrounds me. I have seen them too, just not acknowledged them as I should.
