After getting my hair cut today I took a little extra time and visited some shops I normally don’t stop in when I’m out. As I was headed out of town I noticed a little thrift store that I had been meaning to check out for a couple of months. To tell you the truth, I almost didn’t stop because I was already in the “headed home” mode! But for some reason, I pulled in the parking lot and got out. As I opened the door the smell of the shop of stale cigarette smoke was so strong I almost didn’t even go on in as I usually start coughing around smoke of any kind. But against my own “better judgment” I went on into the small store. Then I heard someone say, “Hi Mrs. Marilyn! Do you remember me?” I looked over and saw one of my former clients from the crisis pregnancy center where I volunteer one day a week. A beautiful young girl in her mid-teens. She had come for our series of parenting classes almost two years ago and had been one of those clients that I just could not get out of my mind. One of those I worried about. Prayed about. And she had been one of my least receptive clients….I thought at the time. She would stare off into space as I talked to her. She was quiet as a mouse. Many times she would roll her eyes and sigh. I tried to let her know how much God loves her and how concerned we ( staff at pregnancy center) were about her and her pregnancy. To say that I was surprised when she greeted me today with such eagerness and excitement is an understatement!
As I stood in that little smoke-filled shop and talked to her she was all smiles and her speech animated. When she asked “Do you remember me?” I immediately smiled and replied that of COURSE I remembered her! She seemed surprised. I told her that I had thought of her many times since her parenting classes were over. That I had prayed for her many times also. She just kind of shook her head, raked her hand through her beautiful long hair and said….”You really remembered me?”
I talked to her about how her life is going at the present. Was introduced to her current boyfriend. Made small talk and just in general tried to let her know that someone cares. My heart breaks when I think of some of the circumstances in her life. Nothing I would share with anyone because our client/counselor confidentiality still stands. But believe me, she’s had a hard road and is still on it.
As I started to leave I remembered that I had a lot of Chick Tracts in the car left from giving them out when we visit our church bus route. I asked her if it would be all right if I went to the car and got something for her to read. I could see a sort of veil come across her eyes, but then she blinked and smiled and said “Sure”. I went out to the car and got maybe seven or eight tracts. (If you’re not familiar with Chick Tracts, they are little comic book style tracts. Very easy and interesting to read) As I handed them to her I told her, “These are all little comic books about God. You remember that when you would come to parenting classes we always talked some about God?” She smiled, nodded her head, and took the tracts.
I was praising God the whole way home for letting me have that encounter with her! I know He orchestrated my un-planned stop in that little store today. Please pray that God will touch the heart of this young girl and her boyfriend. That’s all they need. A touch from God. Just like we all do.
Psalm 106:4 “
Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;”I'm so glad God remembered me and visited me with His salvation!
Marilyn
