A few years back I bought a Porsche 944 Turbo (my favorite car) in Dallas Texas. As many of you know I do this periodically. I’ll buy a car far away not only for the love of the car but for the adventure. This was no different. I decided to take a Greyhound bus to Dallas and meet the guy and drive it back home. Well the “adventure” began…
After picking up the car I started back. I made it about 45 miles east of Dallas headed back to Mobile, Alabama. The car had some issues and shut down. After the tow truck came and got it I got a little upset and jumped back on a bus for a two-day ride home.
I made it to Shreveport and was switching buses. There was nearly a two-hour layover. As I sat there I could tell this was going to be interesting. There were some very interesting people there to say the least. As I stood there I noticed a lady talking to multiple men and after each discussion she would walk to the next. Two things were apparent. #1 She was offering something and they were not buying and #2 It was a matter of time before she got to me. This was going to be interesting.
I had made my way to the little cafe that was located there and when I turned around she was right in front of me. After a little chit chat I declined her “services”. She took a couple of steps away from me and turned around and walked back. She looked right in my eyes and said “Sir, I apologize for my offer so can I try again?”. Try again? I agreed and then she started over. “Sir, do you have a little money so that I can get something to eat?” This is when it got interesting.
I have no idea what prompted me to say this but I looked her right back in her eyes and said “mam, are you really going to buy food with this money?” She went on to tell me she was starving. I then made my second “no idea” comment. I said “I’ll make you a deal if you are interested. I will buy you and I both breakfast if you will sit down with me and tell me your story”. She said that she would love to. Here we go…
We sat down and had a great breakfast and just chatted. She had made some horrible decisions in the past and her two child were taken away from her. She had all intentions on getting her children back but she was trying to get on her feet first. The only way she could make any money, she felt, was to sell herself. She said she hated it and it made her feel dirty and worthless. I asked her what her immediate plan would be and she said she was making her way to New Orleans to work with her cousin at a restaurant hoping this would put her back on the right path.
As we continued our conversation I asked her about her faith. She said that she was born and raised in a Baptist church and had a personal relationship with God. Her statement that really got to me was when she said no matter how far she strayed she always knew he was trying to pull her back, never leaving her side.
I encouraged her to never quit seeking him. I encouraged her to try her best to make wiser decisions, and I begged her to get off the streets.
After all of that I can say one thing, “I believed her”. She was very courteous and thankful for the conversation, the food and the encouragement.
I walked around the corner to a train station, bought her a ticket to New Orleans, gave her hug and prayed for her as she left.
No matter what you have done, where you have gone, you can still come home. Thank you Jesus.
I have no idea where she is today but I pray that she found her way home.
Zechariah 1:3
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I may return to you,”…
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