Stories That Will Change Your Life

Realities of Life

Walking into the restroom, she almost gagged. Fortunately, there was no light to reveal the ugliness of what she was about to do. Turning on the water to the sink, feeling the wet liquid falling upon her feet from the leaking drain pipe below, and pouring out of the broken faucet into her hands, she began the process of washing out the sponge. Then, after cartefully wringing it out, she positioned it where it would do the most good. The girl would have been mortified if anyone could have heard the troubled words of her secret thoughts within. But, nobody would; not today, not ever. For just a fleeting moment, she wondered if she would ever have the money to purchase what she really needed. But, no, even thinking such a thought was more costly than she could afford to allow; especially right now. And so, having positioned it as best she could, she fastened her worn out trousers, and returned to her unsuspecting world, forcing herself to ignore the damp spot in her pants that was left from the sponge. The girl was grateful she remained inconspicuous to her world of uncaring, unobservent, and insensitive people who would not take the time to notice her dilemma. She wondered why nobody seemed to notice the rancid smell which followed her wherever she went. Oh well, she thought, another day.

Food For the Hungry

The children were afraid, but the gnawing pain in their stomach drove them to their neighbor's house for help. "Hey mister," one of them asked the man who answered the door, "Do you have any food? We're really hungry." "Come on in," he answered, "sit right here." Expectantly, the children behave quite politely for such children so young. Afraid of being too much bother, the children race through the hotdogs and beans they are offered. "Hey!" the man scolds, "slow down or you will get sick! Don't you children have any food at home?" They all looked at each other, and the youngest piped up, "We used to, but some men came and took it all away!" With an apologetic look the younger boy accepts the scolding demeanor of his elder siblings. The man acknowledges the look, knowing the children's parents are heavily involved in illegal drug trafficiking. The men came to steal away the food because the children's parents had a debt to pay, with no means to pay it. What would you do?

The LIGHT Bulb

"I see the Light" is a song we sing as we look forward to Heaven and see through the eyes of our Lord. God does give us LIGHT as we celebrate each new day knowing He alone will light the darkness when we feel alone or afraid. And this Truth from the Word of God brings me to a story that changed me forever as spoken through the words of 3 small boys who live in the darkness of a drug infested neighborhood. Come along with me into their house and perhaps you will understand why they come to school each day looking like they never had taken a bath, let alone be prepared to give the teacher their homework. WHY? Why would 3 young boys miss the mark so badly? How could they live in darkness unknown to their neighbors and teachers and not be "found" out? The sad reality is that people all around them did know, and were too preoccupied to do anything to help.

The boys knocked on the door to Off-Broadway on a typical morning of business - preparing for the night's gathering. Their question woke me up when they said, "Do you have a light bulb we could have?" I was not expecting to hear this reply when I asked them what they needed a bulb for. Jason spoke up saying, "The guys that live in our house came in and took the only bulb in the house so they could work!" I knew exactly what they meant and they knew I knew! You see, drug dealers do their work in the dark, so that nobody will know their business. Their cry for help through this request has troubled me ever since!

The question remains, "Do you have a light bulb to give away to a young family caught up in perhaps a deeper darkness than you could ever imagine? These boys had no bulb to light the study table, to live, to prepare a bowl of food or to just feel safe under. They were caught in darkness till the morning light would once again filter through their room. Today, they are running with their mother who continues seeking to escape from the law. Pray and let's light up the world of darkness with the LOVE of Jesus as He allows us to walk into the "study room" prepared for a KING! What would you do?

Living In a Backyard Shower

Have you ever known anyone who just simply hung around? I mean, someone who just wouldn't take the hint that it was time to leave? Well, I knew someone like that once. Paula would continue on talking until well after midnight if we would allow her to! One day we learned that Paula's Wheel-chair cart had been maliciously broken by her angry, drug addicted grandson. It had been raining and we were concerned for her. As I knocked upon the gate to the backyard, Paula cried out for me to come in. What I saw next would change my life forever!

Paula was laying down in a lawn chair recliner, dripping wet from the rain. She had a very badly constructed plastic tarp, which had fallen down all around her. A toaster oven attached to a long extension cord was plugged in, and turned on as an attempt to keep her freezing body warm. As I came into the backyard, she made an unsuccessful attempt to hide the involuntary shivering of her body.

"Paula," I asked, "What is going on?" "Oh nothing," she answered, "I like it back here. Everyone leaves me alone." "Paula," I returned, "I want to see inside your house." "Oh, I'm ok," she replied, "I just like it back here." You have to imagine what I was looking at. Here laid Paula with water, literally pouring down her face, clothing soaked through completely, and smiling as if I was unable to see the demise she was in. "Paula," I said more sternly, "I need to see inside your house!" "Ok," she sighed and handed me the key.

Paula's house was far beyond anything we had ever witnessed before. We had to quite literally climb over at least three feet of junk, just to enter through her doorway! Her house had been taken over my mice, which had a well defined nest covering the entire length of her floor at least two feet deep! The mattress of her bed itself had more mice droppings on it than I had ever before witnessed! And her bathroom was absolutely inaccessable! Upon entering, we quickly closed the door and wept! Why did we not know? How could someone live like this right under our noses? Did we not care? And then it hit us why she had been so reluctant to return to her home, if indeed it could be called such.

Together with another friend, we succeeded in cleaning Paula's bedroom and bathroom. That is, sufficient enough to make it comfortable for her to enter and sleep inside the safety of her home. Paula cried, as she muffled out a whispered "Thank you".

Today, Paula is in a much healthier environment. Her breathing is steady and she accepts help from those who are trained, and who have the availability to provide for her needs. She wouldn't speak with us, because she believes we are the ones who turned her over to the authorities. We weren't, but absolutely would have had they not already been involved!

What about you? Are you ready and willing to be used of God in cleaning someone else's house or apartment? Will you turn away because of the filth, or the shock? What would Jesus have you do today? And, are you willing to lay down your own selfish desires in order to disover the need of someone else in your own neighborhood? Pray. Ask God, and GO!