Six years ago. Just after New Years Day. I was taking down the Christmas tree. Everyone was gone from the house. It was quiet! Peaceful… as peaceful as it can get for a God-fearing woman in Southern California. And, before I go any further, I’d like to point out that Hubby and I lived in a very nice neighborhood. But when trouble comes and people need help, I don’t think what part of town one lives in is a consideration.
So I was quietly taking down the decorations from the Christmas tree and putting them away. Out of I-don’t-know-where, a red pick-up truck screamed down the street and drove right up onto the lawn, and across the sidewalk where a woman (mid seventies) was walking. The person in the truck began to yell something at this poor woman. The older woman turned to go the other direction and get away. The truck slammed into reverse and drove around on the other side of her to again block her path. The older woman spoke something to her predator… I was at the front window watching all of this transpire by now, and I was shooting prayers to God that this poor woman would be okay!
Finally I could make out something that the older woman was saying… “I’m all right. You just go on now.” The truck backed off of the sidewalk into the street. The gears shifted audibly and I watched the truck roar up the street.
The woman now stood alone directly across from my home. Even at this distance, I could see that she was visibly shaken. No neighbors came out of their homes to assist her. Time passed. And… I said out aloud, “Oh God, someone should go over there and help her.”
Now. Don’t EVER suggest to God that someone ought to go do something to help, because God will most assuredly ask you what you’re waiting for? And… He did. I heard it clear as a bell.
My answer: “I just washed my hair. I have it in curlers! I can’t go out there!” (Important note: In my family, women were taught to never exhibit themselves outside of the home unless properly attired… that included your hair. So my horror was real.)
God’s answer: “The only one who cares about your hair in curlers is you. Now get out there.”
My reply as I’m heading down the hall for a jacket and scarf: “Shit! Hell! Damn!”
God’s response: “Cut that out!”
I put on the jacket and scarf over my head and started across the street. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to the woman… But I was saying to God, “Lord,this is your idea. I’m just along for ride. Be my words. I’ll supply the heart. Amen” (I was looking both ways as I crossed not sure whether the red truck would come roaring back with an occupant that would shoot us both.) By the time I reached the woman and our eyes met, words came tumbling out.
“Hi. I couldn’t help but see you over here alone. I am hoping that I can be of help.” The woman looked away from me, and then at the ground. She responded, “Oh I’m okay. My husband will be along any minute.”
She was not okay and I knew that. I walked closer to her. “Well that’s fine. But would you let me wait here with you… ya know, you really aren’t alone.” I opened my arms to her. She began to cry. And I did the only thing I knew to do. I held her. And I rocked her. I told her everything would be just fine… maybe not today… but it will be fine soon. I’m here,” I said.
Interesting. As I rocked her she began to relax. And low and behold my neighbor, who lived across the street from me, came out of his
house to see what we were up to. I just kept rocking her and soothing her. I held her until my neighbor went back into his house. I had the feeling that he had watched this woman’s torment and had decided to do nothing. How sad for him. But at least he could now see that there is another way to live. I said one prayer, and now she was feeling better. I forgot all about my stupid hair. What was I thinking? What arrogance! A human being is so much more important than my crazy vanity.
This woman and I visited for about twenty minutes before her husband arrived. She kept asking what church did I attend. I finally told her, “It isn’t the church I attend so much as it is the relationship I have with the Triune God.” (Churches are good. But churches can change, and become like clubs. What I have is different.)
I helped her to her husband, and waved the two of them off. As they disappeared from view, I headed home to finish the work that was mine before all of this started.
You would think that this is the end of the story. It isn’t. After dinner, Hubby came into the study to tell me that a woman was at the door and wanted to speak to me.
She had come back, she said, to thank me. “I didn’t think there were any people like you left on the earth. I wanted to say thank you again.” (My thought was, “There are many people like me all over the earth… this was just your day to meet one.”)
She explained that the person in the truck was her grandchild who had been staying with them. The grandchild and boyfriend had a drug problems and had taken over the house. The authorities had been called and these grandparents were leaving that night to stay somewhere other than their home, which was no longer safe for them.
As she walked away from our home, she said one more thing… “You made me feel good, and safe.”
How do you know when God needs your help? If you pray, God may very well send you… even with your hair in curlers!
May your life be blessed with people who pray.
Best… Carolyn Thomas Temple
p.s I have given up the use of any kind of hair pin or curler in my hair just in case!