Words don't always come easily to me as I try to express myself. But I'm choosing to depend on God to give me the words to pass along these stories and ideas. I pray I will bring Him glory.
One day I was walking down State Street in Chicago heading home from lunch with a friend. I happened upon a little old lady who was sitting on a planter and asking for money. I stopped to chat with her and learned that she didn't speak much English. Thankfully, we understood each other better in Spanish and were able to have a nice conversation. She was from Spain. She was wearing a black head scarf and a long, flowing, tan dress. She wore sandals that looked like they were tired of walking. No jewelry. She told me her name was Zoila. She was hoping to meet people on the street who could help meet her needs. She lived with her two daughters in a tiny apartment in the city. They didn't have enough money for both shelter and food so they decided to keep the apartment and eat when there was extra money. I said "I'm sorry I don't have any cash with me to give you. Is there anything I can buy or something I can do for you while I'm here?" She smiled s...
One day I was spending time on the streets of Chicago with a few friends. We met a lot of people that day but one in particular stood out to me. His name is Tony. We found Tony sitting on a metal post at the end of one of the bridges that cross the Chicago River. He was dressed poorly for the chilly weather and looked exhausted yet content. We approached and asked if we could sit with him and talk for a while. He welcomed us into his space. We shared a little about ourselves and asked Tony about his own story. He shared a most surprising tale considering his circumstances. "I've been homeless for a few years now. I had trouble paying my bills and ended up evicted and without anyone willing to hire me. So I try to find work here and there but it's hard to get consistent work when I can't even clean myself up! I mostly sleep outside but sometimes make enough to get a room for the night. It's great to be able to shower and have a warm meal every now and then....
Dear God, You've given me stories. Thanks! Help me to share them with others that they might be encouraged, inspired, and pointed to you. Give me words to express your beauty to the masses. Be glorified.
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