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There's No Place Like Home.....

by Shannon Heiden
8/01/2009 / Devotionals

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58 NIV) Word 992

Beautiful One, have you seen her? She's the one with the disheveled appearance and the gaunt look on her face. She hasn't showered in days. She's the one who when you we go home to sleep at night, she stands on a corner holding her sign made from a box.

It reads; "HOMELESS."

Beautiful One, have you seen her?

When I was a young girl I wanted to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I absolutely loved her. I thought Dorothy was so beautiful with her brown hair and her blue and white dress. Not to mention those ruby red slippers! They were the most fabulous pair of slippers my eyes could behold.

You know I had a pair, and I wore those shoes everywhere I went. In my imagination, I felt like a beautiful princess as if something magical would happen to me whenever I slipped my feet into them. I remember clicking my heels three times and saying "there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home."

Nothing magical ever happened. But I really did believe that there's; "no place like home."

So, what happens when you don't actually have a home? What happens when the only home someone has ever known gets ripped away from them? Or, what if home is such an unhappy place and the pain is so great that one actually takes flight away from theirs? What happens when home is nothing more than something that belongs to someone else?

Beautiful One, yesterday when I came home from a long day at work I sat at my computer deciding if I should start this weeks article. I knew what these next few articles theme would be, but I just wasn't feeling it. I decided to go to Star Bucks instead, but not before asking the Lord what it was that He had in mind for my article.

As I was driving, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a lone figure standing in the dark. I couldn't see very well but well enough to see that it was a woman, holding a sign.

I have seen many people but this one was different. I felt compelled to go to her. I just knew I had to make a u-turn.

As I drove nearer, I kept asking myself. What are you going to say to her? How can I help her? I only had a little bit of cash in my wallet. Yet despite my uncertainty, I still went.

I drove up to her knowing I had a very short window of time. My heart ached. It was something about the way she was standing there. She looked beaten down, weary and worn out. The look of anguish and desperation on her face pierced my very soul.

As I I pulled up next to her I extended my hand with a little cash in it and said "sweetie, I'm sorry, this is all I have." As she reached her hand to mine, with tears rolling down her cheeks, she profusely repeated "thank you, thank you."

I looked at her and I firmly told her, "YOU" hold on, your going to make it, don't give up! Dont you give up!!!!" I quickly told her "I used to be right where your at, God is going to help you, all you have to do is call out to Jesus and he will help you, I'm living proof." I just kept repeating, "your going to make it through this!"

As my time was coming to a close I asked her, her name. She replied, my name is "Shannon." I said, "that's my name too." As we touched, I said "we have the same name and I'm going to pray for you every day, don't you give up, youre going to make it."

As we parted she said I will never forget you." Little did she know, I too will never forget my sister on the street...

As I was driving away an overwhelming gratefulness came over me. There was a time in my life when I was just like my sister,....and my Savior. I had no place to call home. I cannot describe to you, the anguish and heartache that accompanies this reality. It is such a horrible and traumatizing event that many that experience it, never recover.

Beautiful One, there are so many out there suffering from homelessness. Especially now with people losing their homes and jobs. Shelters are overflowing with men, women and children and being turned away because the need is greater than the supply.

I admit that I really couldnt change her situation. But maybe, just maybe, when I told her to not give up and call out to the ONE who can, maybe she will do just that.

Maybe, she will meet her Maker. Maybe she will have realized that although she has done it her way, her way got her to that lonely street and maybe its time to try His. God is a miracle working God and although He has everything, He still seeks only one thing, the heart that doesnt know him.

Maybe we can give hope to someone who has none. Maybe instead of passing someone by, we can reach out and touch them. Maybe eight dollars isn't a lot, but then again, to someone who hasn't a dime, it's everything. Maybe just hearing a stranger say, I've been here too, hold on. Is the very thing that will renew their hope and help them to keep going.

Maybe, one act of kindness can make an eternal difference.

Maybe, that beautiful one standing in her pain, can one day be like Dorothy and be able to say;

"There's no place like home...."

Beautiful One, just believe...and make that u-turn.

Shannon Heiden
[email protected]
changingonelifereachingmany.typepad.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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