In Today's World...

...this is probably not highly recommended. May I add, especially at night and especially when you have two babies in your backseat.

But-Bane is always in my heart and on my mind like many of yours. Today, I read the latest on his blog about how Sonya and Drason are playing it forward ongoing. Their experiences always speak to me and I continue to wonder how I can continue to play it forward, too. When I do get a chance to play it forward it is planned and purposeful. Tonight...not so much. This was WAY. WAY. WAY. out of my comfort zone!

I was headed home with Evan and Kate in the backseat when our car was approaching the intersection where highway 70 and 96 meet. Pointed east, I past a young woman walking on the side of the road, also headed eastward. Then all of the sudden, "What?!" I felt overwhelmed that I needed to turn around and ask this young woman if she needed help or a ride home. Okay, let's just say if you are reading this and you know MY mother- well, let's just keep this between you and me for now.

So, I did. I turned around. Selfishly I prayed not for the Holy Spirit to lead me to witness to this woman but I prayed for our safety in what I was about to do. I guess I was raised to be very cautious when it came to situations like these. One hundred percent of the time I witnessed, not just my own family but many others, friends and strangers alike, to let these situations be exactly what they are: Some person. Some father. Some mother. Some friend. Some son. Some daughter. Some sibling. to continue on without help. Maybe not even a prayer.

Now headed westward, I pulled over and started my flashers. After rolling down my window I yelled across the highway, "Ma'am, do you need a ride home?" She came running over towards my car and out of breath she was able to get a "yes" out of her. She gets in the front passenger seat and begins to tell how scared she is: that her uncle and brother might be in trouble. You see, her family doesn't have a car. She told me that her terminally-ill uncle and brother walked down highway 96 to the gas station to "get some cold beverages and some bugles." Three hours later they are not back. Worried, she hits the road on foot.

I'm serious here.

Then, still out of breath, she tells me that her mom is in town; that her mom bailed a pregnant girl out of jail; and that the pregnant girl's boyfriend is in a gang and he is dangerous. Now, how that fit into her being worried about her uncle and brother I am uncertain. She jumbled the two stories into one as if she thought this gangster-dangerous-pregnant girl's-boyfriend was out for her brother or something. Needless to say this young woman was scared. She had set out on foot to search for her brother and uncle and was on her way home when I found her. Empty handed. Broken spirit. Wandering on foot.

For those of you who know highway 96, headed eastbound, this young woman directed me to the first housing area on the right. The housing area consisted of homes that were black inside because I am guessing they couldn't afford electricity, trash/unwanted items in the yards strewn about, a place where it is not atypical to see a police car roam. I have to admit, it was not a peaceful stroll in the park for me, however, BANE was ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT!!

I told her, "The reason I stopped to help you is because, you see, I have these close friends who just lost their baby boy. To honor their sweet boy we are encouraged to do random acts of kindness to anyone...total strangers. I didn't pick you. God picked you for me to share Bane's story." I went on to tell her about Christ's love for us and how even in pain, sorrow, and confusion we should glorify God for all of HIS works and that HE will see us through each moment if we let HIM. She asked me where I went to church and I told her. "I want to go to church, but I don't have a car." As I cautiously drove through her neighborhood, she said "God Bless You and Thank You." She opened the door and as she was getting out of my car she said, "Please be careful. It is so dangerous out there." Before she was able to get out and shut the door, I scrambled for a piece of paper, which happened to be an old receipt, to jot down my number in case she needed a ride to church on Sunday morning.


I felt Broken. Do you break for these people? Does YOUR HEART LITERALLY BREAK? I hope it does.

Yes, I do agree with her that the world can be a dangerous place. But the fact of the matter is: how awful to feel that you live only in a dangerous world. Not one of hope. Not one of love. Not one of compassion. I thought to myself as I drove home how terrible it would be to leave your home every day thinking that the world was only a dangerous place. I would be scared 24/7 if I had that mindset. SHE must be scared 24/7!

I don't know. Maybe she'll call and want a ride to church on Sunday morning. I guess we will see. In the mean time, I will be praying for her, for her environment, for her family, for her safety, for God to make HIS PRESENCE known to her, for her to feel HIS PRESENCE, and to recognize that it is from HIM.

I encourage you to do the same.

Pray for this young woman, whom I don't even know her name.

Pray for the mother that fears the unknown, hoping that she won't be going through what Sonya and Drason are living through.

Pray for Sonya and Drason.

Do a good deed for a stranger. When you feel a tiny tug at your heartstrings...listen. It's probably God telling you to see WHO'S in front of you so YOU can make a difference. Maybe just smile to a complete stranger...something so small can make a BIG difference.

Playing it forward,

Bane's "Aunt" Shelley