"Lord, where is my miracle?"

I looked up when I heard a female voice utter these very words ... only to see an elderly woman who was African-American standing in front of me.  She was shabbily dressed, her clothes no more than rags.  It was evident thta she was very poor or homeless, one of the two.

Compassion rising up within me, I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit.  He wanted me to reach out in love and show her that there were people in this world who cared for others.

I went up to where the woman was standing and offered to buy her a cup of coffee and a meal.  She hesitated, saying I didn't need to do that, but I wouldn't take no for an answer.

So she joined me after I paid for her lunch and thanked me profusely.  She appeared to be in her later sixties or early seventies (though with all the dirt and grime covering her face, it was hard to tell), and she looked like she could have used a friend.  She introduced herself as Annie and said that she was a widow "goin' on twenty years".  She had grown children, she said, but they lived in Mississippi; she ended up here in Tennessee after a tornado had ripped up her home; she was living in government housing, in a low-cost apartment, and she was barely making by.

Annie then told me that she was about to lose her apartment because of rats infesting the place; she was terrified of getting bitten or ending up on the streets.

As Annie talked, I couldn't help but feel comassion towards her.  It was clear that she needed assistance, and the sooner, the better.  My eyes filled with tears.  Annie seemed to be very sweet (if a little shy).  It was then when she began to cry; choking, heavy, gasping sobs tore from deep within her.

All I could do was hug her and try to reassure her that things would work out.  Somehow she didn't believe me.  I wouldn't have blamed her if she didn't.

When we were done eating, I reached into my purse and gave Annie a brand new, crisp $50.00 bill.  I told her to consider it a gift from the Lord and for her to get something for Thanksgiving.  I then invited her to come to our church, which was having a special Thanskgiving meal, no charge, for the city's homeless and poor.

I felt wonderful in knowing that I had blessed someone and showed them Christ's love in action.  Hopefully Annie would accept the offer and come to the holiday meal and enjoy a good, piping-hot lunch of turkey and "all the trimmin's".  I promised myself that I would look for her and wish her God's provision and blessings upon her life.