Yesterday I was working on one of my malpractice cases when I realized that a medical file I needed was at a physician’s office in Crowley. I decided to go pick it up. I asked Rosemary if she felt like a trip to Crowley. She did if I would include lunch and a stop at Toys R Us to do some kid Christmas shopping. Off we went.
After a nice lunch at Fezzo’s in Scott, we hit the interstate and headed west. I took the first Crowley exit and ahead, on the off ramp, I spot a pathetic figure. It was a women, older, red faced and shivering in the cold. She held a crudely made sign which read “Broke.” As the traffic stopped I was a few feet from her face. I forced myself not to look at her and gazed straight ahead. She didn’t look at me but her pathetic eyes broke my heart and Rosemary’s. As we pulled away from her, we began to discuss her situation. We went through all the usual. Is she really in trouble? Is she a professional pan handler? Is she a serial killer? Nonetheless, we decided we needed to do something. We decided to “pray about it” while I picked up the medical file.
After the pickup we were both lead to go back and give her some money. This was a bit of a problem because we had two dollars in cash between us. Such is the world of the debit card. To get back on that off ramp we had to drive seven miles back to Rayne and get back on the Interstate and go 7 miles back to Crowley. We decided to do this as we looked for a auto teller. We found one at a pharmacy and Rose went in to get some money. We were also almost out of gas and needed to take care of that. When I pulled into the gas station I realized I didn’t have my wallet. Left at the restaurant we assumed. Nonetheless we returned to Crowley and again took the first off ramp. The woman was still there. As planned I pulled up next to her and handed her the amount of money we had decided. I think I said, “Jesus Loves You.” That’s what we had planned anyway. She did say, “God bless You.” I asked if she needed anything else and she said that no, she was on her way home.
We pulled away and in the rear view mirror I saw the car behind me pull in and also hand her money. I thought that she probably has a bigger retirement fund than I do.
Nevertheless we both felt blessed. We had done something, together, for someone else, directed, we felt by God. It was great to be on a mission, together, especially for Christmas. We returned to the restaurant to get my wallet. It wasn’t there. Momentary panic and great frustration. Turns out Rose was sitting on it. But I digress.
At Toys R Us we found everything we were looking for. We knocked a huge portion off our shopping list, a rarity for us before December starts. One item was a lot less and a better fit than we had planned. In fact, we saved a bit more on that one item than the amount of money we gave to the lady on the off ramp.
Pray today for all the men and women on all the off ramps everywhere. Pray that Jesus will meet their needs. But more importantly, pray that the folks who pass them by will feel the tug of God and not miss the blessing God has in store for those who follow his lead.
Little old lady. I don’t know what your real story is. But I pray that your needs are met and that you saw Jesus in someone on that off ramp yesterday and that encounter will change your life. It certainly blessed mine.
Nick
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