She stood there alone staring into space ,

with a sad look written over her face .

I swear she looked so scared just standing there .

So I went and started talking to her .

"I hope you don't mind me saying hello ,

but you look as if you've nowhere to go ."

I asked her was she ok and she said ,

"I'm sick of living , I'd rather be dead . "

She showed me her wrists that she slashed before ,

I said ,

"Hey please don't you do that no more ."

She lit up a smoke she took from her bag ,

She blew a some ring and gave me a drag .

She had rings in her lip , studs through her nose

Why she wore them , heaven knows I suppose ,

But she chose to share her story with me ,

About leaving her home and family .

She spent a lot of time drinking in pubs ,

Then she ended up addicted to drugs .

Feeling guilty about what she had done ,

At the point of no return ,she had come .

She had cut off her hair and didn't care ,

about pretty clothes or make up to wear .

She didn't look well , just a bag of bones ,

She had lived in shelters but not in homes ,

Its so unfair as we stood in the rain ,

waiting for some night bus that never came .

She said to me ,

"Hey my name is Denise ."

I told her I wanted to be a priest .

She said ,

"Would you say a prayer for me please ."

I told her I would and got on my knees .

"Dear God help Denise to get off the drugs ,

help her and heal her and bring her some hugs .

Heavenly Father I ask you today ,

To bring hope so Denise can find her way "

Suddenly then there and then the night bus came .

She fell in my arms in the pouring rain .

There was a needle still stuck in her arm .

Was it too late , had she done herself harm?

I asked the bus driver to make the call .

In my arms she felt so helpless and small .

But she had not died alone in the night .

For God stepped in when she gave up the fight .

Denise was taken to emergency ,

For some treatment and afterwards therapy .

It is amazing the power of prayer ,

God can do anything :ask him , he's there .

Denise found a home and people who care .

She kicked the habit and grew back her hair .

Now she's a mother with her family .

Its a miracle ?

You'll have to agree.





By Paul McCann