My niece turned 22 today. We met down at their new apartment near the Virginia Beach boardwalk to celebrate her life. She is married and enjoying it with her husband and best friend.
We decided to go down to the boardwalk and get something from Dairy Queen. Susan and I had forgotten Susannah’s stroller, so we drove down a bit earlier, parked at one of the parking garages and walked down while carrying Susannah in our arms.
We sat at one of the boardwalk benches to enjoy the cool ocean breezes and introduce Susannah to life in Virginia Beach when a woman walked up to us.
Seeing a couple with a newborn down at the beach was a bit unusual, so that was sort of expected, but I noticed right away that she was the homeless gal who actually helped pose one of my portrait models the year before. She got right into my photo session then and she seemed to be in a better frame of mind then. Now I could tell that she was probably a bit tipsy or drunk or something. I don’t know, maybe not, but she was slurring her words. She had on a t-shirt that had seen better days and baggy shorts.
Through a clear slurring of her words, she told us a number of stories about her family and things that had happened to her family. To my shame, I just didn’t trust what she was saying. I have no idea if any of it was true, but I still felt bad about feeling that way.
My wife is such a kind person that she spoke to this gal and treated her with such kindness and compassion. I was skeptical of her stories. My wife asked if we could pray with her for her family. We lifted her and her family up before the Lord, and we will continue to do so. Because of my wife Susan, I have more compassion for that woman.
I look at this homeless gal and I look at my niece and I see such radical stories. How did it happen to Terra that she is living on the street now? Has she ever been offered help? Has she ever been to drug rehab? Does she have a drug or drinking problem?
I am thankful for Katie’s growth as a woman and wife, but I am also thankful for Terra, the homeless woman I met. Her life is just as valuable as anyone else’s life. And I would love to see her lifted up and out of the mire of her life. Lord, I pray that she would get the help that she needs through whatever means necessary. Amen.
