Her Name is Diane

Last Thursday I was in my church's reception area, asking about vacation Bible school forms and making small talk with the receptionist. Suddenly, the door swung open and a woman I will not soon forget struggled in through the door. She looked to be near fifty, with her short brown curls pushed out of her face with a plastic headband.  She had a leg brace on and an obviously swollen leg and foot. She walked slowly and painfully across the room and eased herself into a chair.  The receptionist asked if there was something she could help her with.  The lady, clearly exhausted from the short walk from the car to the chair, exhaled and said, "I don't know. But I hope so.  I'm having a real hard time lately, and with my leg hurt I can't work right now. I've been living in my car. I wondered if maybe you could help me out with some groceries or gas? Maybe a gift card?"  The receptionist explained she didn't have any gift cards to give away. The woman sat for another moment and then heaved herself up and said, "Well, thank you anyways", and began to make her way to the door.

It was as clear as day as I watched this exchange unfold.  God might as well have tapped me on the shoulder and said, "This one's for you."  I tossed a quick wave to the receptionist as I scooted out the door behind the lady.  "Ma'am!"  I called as I followed her down the walkway.  As she neared her car, she turned toward me.  She truly looked desperate and hopeless.  "Tell me what's going on,"  I asked her.

She started to reiterate some of what she had stated a moment ago in the office.  She told me about living in her car, and how a friend of hers, who worked at a nearby 7-11, let her take a shower recently. She nodded over her shoulder at a frozen dinner someone had given her, which she had sitting on her dashboard heating up in the sun. As I looked behind her at her beat up maroon Explorer, it was clear she truly was sleeping in her car. In the back seat were some pillows and blankets, and in the front seat were an assortment of books, bags and personal effects. The car was crammed with what appeared to be all of her possessions. My heart ached as I listened to her story. What would I do in her position? Hurt, alone, unable to provide for my most basic needs?  Where was God for this woman?  Did she even know about Him?

I'll tell you where God was for this woman. He was busy being Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.  He divinely placed me there in that office, at that particular moment in time. All I had to do was say yes to the opportunity He was placing before me.

As I looked over her shoulder in the parking lot, I could see the grocery store across the street behind her.  She had not asked for money, but gift cards.  That I could do. And I would go on faith that she would indeed use what I planned to give for noble purposes.  In other words, I was already praying that God would not allow her to go in and blow it all on cigarettes and booze. I wanted to believe this woman's needs were as authentic as they appeared. As if to allay my concerns over legitimacy, the Holy Spirit poured out a peace over me. I knew that this was for real.

I told her to follow me over to the store across the street and I would get her what she needed. She was in tears, overwhelmed with gratitude.  "Bless you!" she said, her voice choked with emotion.

As I got out of my car in the grocery store parking lot, I saw her struggling to get out of hers.  I went over and told her to just stay in the car, to not worry about trying to walk in. As I rushed into the store, a whirlwind was racing through my mind:  How much to spend? What else does she need? Oh man, my tae kwon do class starts in 2 minutes! I shook off the thoughts about being late (helping a homeless woman was a little more important than perfecting roundhouse kicks) and launched into some desperate praying: God, show me what she needs! Instantly, He put into my head "sandwich, water, pain medication".  He also gave me specific guidance on the gift cards and how much to purchase for each.  I added to the bag a devotional book I had in my car. I walked the bag of items over to her car and told her what all was there. She was truly grateful. I then asked her if she believed in God. She said she did, and she reached behind her and pulled out a very worn and well-loved paperback Bible. AWomen of Faith devotional Bible that was literally held together with the label from a Suave shampoo bottle. Then I asked if I could pray with her. She very much welcomed it, so I embraced this tender stranger to whom I feel eternally connected. As I prayed over her, asking the God who provides to meet her needs, to keep her safe, to make a way for her and bless her richly - I felt overcome with love for this woman I did not even know. God put a love in my heart for her in that moment that gave me a glimpse of how He loves her. We then went our separate ways, both in tears and overwhelmed by God's incredible love.

In His indescribable grace, He chose me that day to be love to this woman. He chose me to hug her as only He could. He chose me to give her something to eat, something to drink. To care for her. Who am I to accept such a privilege?

Yes, Lord, surely it is more blessed to give than receive. I opened my hands, and you, dear Lord, opened my heart.

I still think of her often...Her name is Diane.