Figure Something Out

I used to work for The Salvation Army Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Program.  What I learned in my time there is invaluable.  But, working for a non-profit organization, while rewarding, can have it’s definite moments of frustration.  Little money to work with coupled with high demand for service can lead to periods of time where you feel helpless to help those reaching out to you.  You become very inventive and resourceful in getting the things you need.
Not long after I started there, I had a particular client that I started seeing pretty regularly.  I’ll call her Sonya, just so we have a name.  The first time I met her she had come to me on a referral and I could tell that she didn’t really want to be sitting in my office.  She was hardened by life, though at the time, she was the same age as me–27.  A life of abandonment, incest, and physical abuse will leave you jaded to the world and untrustworthy of all.  Over time, I finally gained her trust and I vowed to myself that I was not ever going to be another person that let her down.

Sonya had four children, all young, no family to speak of, no husband, no nothing.  Her parents were extremely abusive and she had basically been on her own since she was fourteen.  She desperately wanted to do something with her life, but had no idea how to achieve any goals.  Eventually, through a lot of hard work, string pulling, and sheer will we got her daycare for her little ones and a scholarship to go to a technical school.  Things were slowly getting better, but there was still a very long way to go.

One day, she showed up at my office in tears because school was starting and she had spent all her money on school supplies and had nothing left for necessities for the rest of the month.  She was at a loss on what to do.  Sometimes our office had donations on hand, but we had been dry for awhile, so I had nothing to give her.  I sat down at my desk and started calling local churches and other charitable organizations.  I called every number I had and then some and found a brick wall at every turn–nobody had anything to give.

Sonya could see that I was frustrated and she got out of her seat and said, “It’s alright, Miss Amy.  I’ll figure something out.”  I knew from experience that when a woman said, “Figure something out” it usually meant offering up certain services to men in order to feed their families.  It’s amazing what women will go through in order to keep their children with them.  But, I was not okay with this answer.  I simply could not stomach her having to resort to that because I couldn’t find her diapers, toilet paper, milk, and other necessities.  I asked her if she would please give me till the end of the day to figure something out.  She agreed.  I could tell she didn’t have much hope.

I paced in my office.  I mentally went through every single thing I could possibly do to help this woman and then I realized that I hadn’t prayed about it.  So, I plopped down in my seat, and asked God to please help me help this woman.  I told Him that I was at a loss on what to do and the only thing I could do now was ask for His help.  I completely surrendered and gave it to Him.  After I was done praying, I grabbed my keys and left my office building for awhile, as I had something else work related to take care of.

I wasn’t gone maybe thirty minutes when I came back and as I walked through the door, I noticed a woman standing in our lobby area.  I smiled politely at her, but didn’t pay her much attention as my mind was full of other things.  I went back to my office and checked to see if I had any messages.  A knock came at my door and our secretary, Georgia, came in.  “Amy, there is someone in the lobby I want you to come speak with.”  I begrudgingly got out of my chair and followed Georgia to the lobby.

I walked into the lobby and saw the same women I had seen on my return still standing there.  I shook her hand and introduced myself and she said, “My name is Karen and I dropped in to ask if there is anything you need.”  (My mouth dropped at this moment.) “I have saved money and collected up a bunch of clothes, shoes, and other stuff and whatever you need, I’ll get it for you.”

 I looked her straight in the eye and said, “I know this is going to sound strange, but I was just praying for you.”  Karen looked at me quizzically, so

I explained.  “I have a client that I have been trying to help all day and I haven’t been able to find a way to help her.  S

o, about forty minutes ago, I just prayed that God would help me.  And here you are.  You are an angel.”  She smiled with tears in her eyes and asked me to make out a list of all the things I needed.  She took the list and later that day came back with everything I needed and more.  Before she left, I hugged her and thanked her profusely for her generosity, and never saw her again.

I excitedly called Sonya and gave her the good news.  She was ecstatic.  She was soon at my office and I gave her all the items that she needed.  As she turned to go she said, “Miss Amy, nobody has ever treated me like this in my life.”

“Well, Sonya, I was trying my hardest for you, but the only reason we have all this stuff is because God answered my prayer.”  She just said, “Well, nobody has ever prayed for me either.”  She hugged me and left.

I realized something that day.  God works in mysterious, wonderful ways.  Originally, I was trying to fix this problem all by myself and I was getting nowhere.  It wasn’t until I realized where I needed to turn that both Sonya and I were blessed.  I found this quote by Mother Teresa that sums up a lot of what I learned that day.