I’ll never forget that October day When through an old parking lot I made my way
To meet some friends who were waiting for me
To be on our way for others to see
Suddenly I saw her, with windows rolled down
In an old car she sat, the color was brown
She looked so alone as I glanced at her face
Her features revealed one staring to space
Politely I smiled and walked right on by
But something within me started to cry
“You must go back, ‘cause she seems pretty bad!
Tell her you noticed she’s looking so sad.”
My friends were informed they’d now need to wait
It appeared I’d been detoured to an unexpected date
With someone in need and hurting inside
Who needed God’s Word in which to abide
Walking back to her car I prayed Lord be my guide
Give me words, give me peace, please be by my side
I approached the car without a word spoken
For just looking at her, she surely was broken
Her eyes wet with tears I saw right away
To me it was clear hope was needed that day
I stepped to the window and told her my name
My prayer was this stranger would listen the same
Standing there for a moment I knew what to say
“Would you like some fresh hope, fresh hope for today?”
The wording, the question, I’d not used in the past
It was definitely from God to her heart put to last
She said she knew Jesus and loved him a lot
But that October morn her life seemed so shot
As she shared her life story so sad it did sound
She said she was drifting, her feet off the ground
Confessing she needed much hope on that day
For her whole life was heading far, far away
As I listened to her my heart felt a love
With depth and compassion sent from heaven above
I told her that Jesus would always be there
To love her, to carry, her burdens to bear.
His love would always beckon her near
She’d rest at His feet never needing to fear
To Him she’d submit all her worry and care
And from start to the finish, He’d always be there
At the end of our special time spent together
We joined hands to pray that this storm she would weather
To summon the strength for God’s help alone
To touch her, to help her, to give her His song.
I left this new sister a Bible to read
And prayed that solely on God’s Word she would feed
For more reasons than one be aware, look around
On this October day, a dear lady I found
To encourage, to listen, to join hands and pray
To give her God’s Word, and kindness to pay.
*Written by Carolyn Canizales, after attending the Austin Scripture Blitz, October, 2019
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