Our Hope: Prayers for Betty

Jesus said, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ Luke 6:31 (NIV)

My husband took me out for breakfast this morning, as he often does on Saturdays.  We treasure time spent together because we have busy lives that often send us in different directions.

As we were heading home we pulled up at one of the busiest intersections in town.  I saw a very small woman standing on the corner, right outside my window, holding a sign.  ‘I am very sick.  I have no job and no money.  Please help me.’  This is what I remember from the sign.  And of course, immediately my heart was torn, between believing she was truly sick and in need, and wondering at the same time if she was simply scamming people for money.

But something immediately grabbed me, and gave me pause, indicating to me that some action was required.  So I pulled out my wallet, in which I had no real cash, but which was filled with tons of change.  Well, maybe not tons!  But I had noticed the past couple of weeks that the amount of change had grown, and the little wallet was getting very heavy.  Usually, when this happens, I take the change and put it in our ‘Change Garden’, which is a big cut glass bowl we keep in our bedroom where we toss our extra change most nights.  It comes in handy at times, especially when the grandkids are around!

Anyway, I realized that the Holy Spirit was telling me to trust Him and to give that lady all my change.  I rolled down my window, asked her name, and then I told her I didn’t have any real cash, but she was welcome to my change.  She smiled big and held out her little hand.  Now that I was closer to her, I could see her ravaged face, her somewhat shabby clothes, and the look of hope and joy that suddenly flooded her sweet little face.  I told her I would be praying for her, and I gave her two huge handfuls of change.  She smiled so sweetly, my heart broke open.  I would have picked her up and taken her home with me if I could have.  Last thing I said as the light changed and we were forced to move away with the heavy traffic, was ‘God bless you.’  She responded with the same words.  Somehow I believe she meant them.

You see, Jesus tells us to give to those who are in need.  While I didn’t have much on me to give to her, I gave what I had.  And that was enough.

Jesus is Our Hope.  He is Betty’s hope as well, and I am going to keep praying for her.  I will watch that corner of that intersection every Saturday from now on.  You can pray for my Betty, or the Betty’s who are in your lives.  Jesus listens to the prayers of His people, and this pleases His heart.

‘The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.’ 1 Peter: 3:12

Blessings!