A Pay it Forward Story

This is a story that touched my heart and is a God working story.

One Thanksgiving night as I sat with my family reliving the good day we had had with family and Turkey and overeating-the phone rang . The call was the Helpline and they needed me to go to the hospital to be with a rape victim. It was not the ending to the day I was expecting. As all the other times before, I prayed all the way to the hospital. I prayed for the girl, I prayed for the family I would meet and try to comfort, I prayed for me that I would say the right words and that God would be with me.

The scene when I got to the hospital still is with me today. The girl I will call M, was all alone and she was broken outside and in. She was a beautiful young woman who now lived on the street. When I told her who I was and sat with her, I saw a bleeding crying young woman who needed an advocate-not a hard street person. She was someone’s daughter. She began to talk to me and told me she had not eaten at all that day. I walked out and asked for food for her. They brought a sandwich and she cried. She said I was hoping I could have Turkey and a hot meal. I again went out and said can she please get a hot plate with some Turkey and dressing-before I walked out I prayed. In 20 minutes they brought a tray with hot Turkey and dressing and all the fixings. She cried and asked me if I was an angel. I stayed with her all night -the reason she has a drug problem is she also had some mental illness problems. The hospital personnel told me she had been in before, not for rape, they told me she came from a good family and she had nursing training , but now her family had a do not call in her file.She actually was suicidal that night so they admitted her.I could not bring myself to leave her and I treated her like she was my daughter in that bed- I talked to her and rubbed her hand- I even sang to her to try to get her to rest. When I left her that night –I prayed so hard for her. I knew I might never see her again.

God had other plans-three weeks later the police were bringing a victim to the shelter- the door opened and I heard a scream-it was M. The face was broken again , but she was so happy to see me. Her physical wounds began to heal, but she was spiraling downward. The person who had beat her up after she got out of the hospital had stole her belongings along with the prescription she needed to help her depression and mental problems. They said without her meds she could not stay at the shelter. I put her in my red VW Beetle and said we are going to the hospital and get a copy of that prescription. Everyone said with no identification the hospital would not give us a narcotic prescription. I told M God can make a way when there seems to be no way. I prayed with her right there and walked in that hospital-went to where they said to go, the girl behind the desk said sorry we can’t. We sat in the chair across from her window and prayed again. I walked back to the window and asked to see her supervisor –I explained everything- how I had been her advocate the first night- the dates , the details and how she could not stay at the shelter and get help without the meds. She said wait here. Five minutes later –she came back with the copy. We got in my bug-I gave God the glory-drove to the pharmacy I had found who would fill it  and in time she thrived-even going to church with other ladies and she was saved soon after that.  I wish I could say I know where she is today and that she is doing well, I hope one day in heaven I see her or here if God allows it. The reason this is a pay it forward story is because that’s why I did it, because someone had done it for me before and I was paying forward.

We can do no great things -only small things with great love. Mother Teresa

Be blessed!