Christian Living
Mary’s Story
The sky was clear once more, with the handiwork of Almighty God shining in a thousand twinkling stars. The September air was getting a bit chilly – not unusual for that time of year. My mind was going in a hundred different directions, trying to sort out all of the many things that I would have to do that day, setting priorities, making sure that I had not omitted anything…
It was early morning, very early morning, and I was surprised at the amount of traffic that was already buzzing along the streets. As was my practice, I was walking to my office, about an hours walk - and I was about half–way there, completely lost in my thoughts.
“Sir! – Excuse me, Sir!” a female voice broke my thoughts. I turned slightly to see a single figure across the street who seemed to be waving at someone. "Excuse me, Sir!” she continued to call and wave. I turned and looked around, and realized that she must be calling to me, so I stopped and faced her as she crossed the street towards me. She wasn’t unattractive – just a little unkempt, and that, coupled with the hour of the morning caused my heart to skip a beat as my mind asked “Possible abuse victim? - Oh Lord - give me wisdom”
She was within a few feet of me now, and, seeing that she had my undivided attention, she began once more. “Excuse me, Sir” she said, in a much softer voice, “I was wondering, you wouldn’t be looking for any ‘favors’ this morning – by any chance - would you?” She stood before me, as if for inspection, in her tight jeans and black velour jacket.
“As a matter of fact, no” I countered, “I don’t need any favors this morning.”
“Augh!” she flounced, as she sidled up to me so that I could feel the length of her body next to mine. “’Cause I haven’t eaten since yesterday - and I really need a ‘blow job’!”
I put my arm around her neck, lightly, and as she looked expectantly into my face, I said – “You know, Honey, there really is a better Way than all of this.”
“Yeah, I know,” she answered, somewhat ruefully, “But I really need to eat.”
I knew, from talking to others who dealt with ‘street people’ that the cardinal rule was – “Never give them money, rather take them and feed them”. But the urgency in her voice conveyed a need for the setting aside of rules. A bit confused, and somewhat desperate myself, I quickly breathed a prayer as I reached for my wallet.
“Lord,” I prayed, “I don’t know what’s in my wallet from yesterday – if anything, but if there is something , let me know that it is Your will for me to give it to her right here. If not, I’ll take her down to the 24- hour gas station/convenience store a few blocks away, and use my bank card to get her something to eat. When I opened my wallet, there was a crisp, new, ten-dollar bill. Taking it out, and replacing my wallet, I turned to her and said,
“I want you to know that I still don’t need any favors, but this is for you, Dear.” Taking her hand, I placed the ten dollar bill squarely in her little palm. She took one look at what was in her hand and went completely ecstatic.
“Oh, Sir! ten dollars!!” she exclaimed, literally jumping for joy. “Oh, Sir! You don’t know what this means! I can eat again! Oh, you don’t know just how much you’ve done! Now I can go down to the ‘7-11’ and buy me something to eat!” All the while her sheer elation caused her to continue to jump for joy. Her outburst was so much like that of a little child that I automatically reached to take her in my arms to calm her.
Without hesitation, she melted in my embrace, and the ‘floodgates’ broke as I held her for a few moments. Before I released her, I whispered in her ear - “I love you - Dear”.
“I love you too!” she managed to return between the half-sobs. Almost as if handling a china doll, I released her from my embrace and watched as she tried to regain her composure.
“Are you going to be alright?” I offered. She nodded, still fighting tears. “Can I walk you to the ‘7-11’?” I suggested, desperately trying to recall what I had learned in Evangelism Explosion and how best to apply it to this particular situation.
“Oh no, that’s alright”, she returned, somewhat brighter now, “I,ve got a friend just a few blocks over. I’m going to go get her and we’ll go down together and get something to eat!” The last phrase was emphasized as if it was still quite unbelievable to her.
“Alright, Dear” I said, “God Bless”. I watched as she turned and walked down the cross - street, then I continued on my way towards the office. As I walked I prayed, “Oh Lord, I may not understand all of the possible ramifications of what just went on back there, but Lord, may one Little Girl, in those few moments, have come to know that there is a Love available to her. The type of love that says “I love you – not because of what you can do for me; not if you fulfill certain needs I may have, but just because you are ‘you’. And you don’t have to change for me, you don’t have to fit into any of my preconceived ideas. I love you – period.” There were many reflections over the next few days, but one of the most heart-wrenching was the fact that, in that entire exchange, I didn’t even get her name – and she was younger than my own daughter. Just so that we could have a name to pray for, my business partners and I dubbed her “Mary”.
As I continued to reflect on that entire experience, the Lord said to me - “You know why she was doing what she was doing? Probably because when she was a little girl, there was no daddy there to reaffirm her, to tell her how pretty she was, to pirouette before as she modeled that new dress, to show her the love and affection she so desperately craved. And so she turned to try to get those needs fulfilled where ever she could.” I thought of my own 24 year–old Little Girl, and all of the fond times we have shared.
“Oh God”, I prayed, “thank-you for the privilege of being there, to provide one little girl with a “Daddy” experience, even if it was at 5:30 A.M. under a street light on a main thoroughfare. Maybe someday it will make a difference in her life.” Often, as I remember Mary, my eyes become misted, and yes, the tears sometimes start to flow. And there are times, when I start to lose sight of the Providence of the Almighty that He reminds me of my attachment and care for Mary and gently chides - “If you could become so attached in a matter of a five minute encounter, that you care for her so deeply - how much more do you think I care for you after thirty-seven years – O ye of little faith?”
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