Day 181- Thankful that Jesus sets us free!

Yesterday I had a very interesting experience. I had gone out to get groceries and was on my way home when I saw a woman standing at the bus stop in front of a convenience shop. She had suitcases and some other stuff with her, and I wondered if she was traveling or homeless and possibly in need. So I turned around and came back.

I pulled up in the parking lot and opened up the window to talk to her. I told her I thought I had $10 in my purse and asked if she would like to have it. She said yes, so I started looking in my purse for it. I asked her if she was okay and she said no, then her words began to tumble out of her mouth like a rushing stream.

She started off telling me that she had been abused for 51 years, and I listened compassionately, because I have a bit of an understanding of abuse. Then she started telling me that she had lost roles to famous actresses which sent up a red flag in my mind. If she was an actress, might some of this be an act?

But I do think something was definitely mentally wrong with her. She was telling me that people had given her food and that they had poisoned it. She wouldn’t eat it because she believed it to be poisoned.

She talked so much and so fast that I couldn’t even keep up with her, much less remember everything she said. I asked her something about going on the bus, and she said, “Oh, I’m not taking the bus.” She also criticized another customer who was standing at the bus stop.

I couldn’t find the $10 after all my searching, so I said out loud, “I was sure I had $10 in here!” But I couldn’t find it. I had about enough change for a bus fare or a sandwich from the convenient shop, so I asked her if she would like that. She said yes and took it.

Before leaving, it occurred to me that maybe I should talk to her about Jesus. So I asked her innocently if she had ever given her heart to Jesus. She drew herself up and said, “I’m God. God is a woman who was born in 1969.” (That’s 51 years, the same amount of time she said she’d been abused.) Then she said something about the tree of life and showed me a bracelet she had on with a charm of the Tree of Life. I’m not sure what that had to do with anything. I have the exact same charm on a necklace, and it doesn’t make me God.

After listening carefully to what she had to say, I politely took my leave and drove out of the parking lot.

When I looked back in the rearview mirror, I saw her flicking each of the coins that I had given her one by one into the middle of the street.

I recently watched the first eight episodes of “The Chosen”. Yesterday’s situation reminded me of how compassionate Jesus was to Mary Magdalene and the Samaritan woman at the well. I felt that the best way I could help this woman was to pray fervently for her that God would deliver her from whatever bondage she is in and bring her to good mental health.

He still cares today about those who are in any kind of bondage and wants to set us free!

Today I’m thankful for the help and healing God has given me in my own heart and mind as I draw closer to Him.

I’m thankful for the fiery trials that I’ve had to go through that help me have a more compassionate heart for people like this woman.

I wish I could do more for her, but I’m thankful that I serve a God who answers prayer and is able to do great and mighty things in her life.

And, I’m thankful for Jesus example of mercy and kindness toward Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well and for his power to set them free.

I’m thankful that He still sets people free today!