This is the story of one woman on two different occasions; a less than glamorous beginning with a hopeful ending.
I met Susie at the free clothing store attached to a homeless shelter. She was an abnormally tall and slender woman with pulled back dark hair and stone-like teeth. I was walking throughout the store, when she approached me in search of a pair of sandals for the beach. She had rummaged through the used shoe section and had not found sandals large enough to fit her long and skinny feet- size 10. I comforted her concern by promising to do my best to find a pair in the back storage room. Baskets of badly sorted shoes awaited me. I was determined to not return empty handed.
Ten minutes later I did my best to confidently present my mediocre findings to Susie. Although the pairs I offered her had been worn before and were not a perfect fit, she gratefully accepted the findings and tried on each pair. She modeled them for another shopper who told her how great they looked on her. Although I was uncertain, Susie was sure that each pair was right, choosing to keep all three or four pairs, despite the pleadings of her fellow shopper to share with her.
An hour later I saw Susie joyfully searching through the clothing racks. A large trash bag stuffed to the brim with her new treasures laid at her feet. As she shopped, Susan shared pieces of her life with me.
For a little over a decade Susie had been living in the U.S. - starting in NYC and now in Chicago. She came to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia, leaving her family and friends behind. She had not seen her family since she left. She seemed surprised but grateful that they still know her voice when she calls. What a comfort to still be known after all this time.
Susie inquired about job opportunities in Chicago and Indianapolis. She expressed the difficulty of finding available jobs, filling out applications and interviewing. It was difficult for her to compete against others for jobs and frustrating to never be hired. Susan kept mentioning the medical field. I could not figure out if she was interested in the medical field or if she had previously worked in the field. I tried to keep my heart from turning hopeless as I doubted that a woman her age with broken English, who called a homeless shelter home, would ever land a job in the competitive and prestigious medical world. I wanted to believe it was possible, but knowing her lack of chances was a barrier to my belief.
It was one of those times when my heart broke for the poor immigrants, who came to America the beautiful in the search of a better life but only found poverty; poverty of resources, family, support, joy and love. Why Susie? Why not me? And if it were me would my response be even a slice as joyful and content as hers?
Susie expressed her appreciation for the free store, where other people's rags became her riches. Like we women do, Susie oooed and ahhhed over the pieces of clothing before her. She was genuinely, not grudgingly, picking out her new wardrobe in a giant warehouse of second-hand clothes. What seemed old and ugly to my spoiled eyes was deemed as cute, beautiful and pretty in Susie’s grateful eyes. To her it was a fabulous opportunity!
Through encounters like this, God continues to humble me and show me how often my treasure lies in everything but Him.
I met Susie at the free clothing store attached to a homeless shelter. She was an abnormally tall and slender woman with pulled back dark hair and stone-like teeth. I was walking throughout the store, when she approached me in search of a pair of sandals for the beach. She had rummaged through the used shoe section and had not found sandals large enough to fit her long and skinny feet- size 10. I comforted her concern by promising to do my best to find a pair in the back storage room. Baskets of badly sorted shoes awaited me. I was determined to not return empty handed.
Ten minutes later I did my best to confidently present my mediocre findings to Susie. Although the pairs I offered her had been worn before and were not a perfect fit, she gratefully accepted the findings and tried on each pair. She modeled them for another shopper who told her how great they looked on her. Although I was uncertain, Susie was sure that each pair was right, choosing to keep all three or four pairs, despite the pleadings of her fellow shopper to share with her.
An hour later I saw Susie joyfully searching through the clothing racks. A large trash bag stuffed to the brim with her new treasures laid at her feet. As she shopped, Susan shared pieces of her life with me.
For a little over a decade Susie had been living in the U.S. - starting in NYC and now in Chicago. She came to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia, leaving her family and friends behind. She had not seen her family since she left. She seemed surprised but grateful that they still know her voice when she calls. What a comfort to still be known after all this time.
Susie inquired about job opportunities in Chicago and Indianapolis. She expressed the difficulty of finding available jobs, filling out applications and interviewing. It was difficult for her to compete against others for jobs and frustrating to never be hired. Susan kept mentioning the medical field. I could not figure out if she was interested in the medical field or if she had previously worked in the field. I tried to keep my heart from turning hopeless as I doubted that a woman her age with broken English, who called a homeless shelter home, would ever land a job in the competitive and prestigious medical world. I wanted to believe it was possible, but knowing her lack of chances was a barrier to my belief.
It was one of those times when my heart broke for the poor immigrants, who came to America the beautiful in the search of a better life but only found poverty; poverty of resources, family, support, joy and love. Why Susie? Why not me? And if it were me would my response be even a slice as joyful and content as hers?
Susie expressed her appreciation for the free store, where other people's rags became her riches. Like we women do, Susie oooed and ahhhed over the pieces of clothing before her. She was genuinely, not grudgingly, picking out her new wardrobe in a giant warehouse of second-hand clothes. What seemed old and ugly to my spoiled eyes was deemed as cute, beautiful and pretty in Susie’s grateful eyes. To her it was a fabulous opportunity!
Through encounters like this, God continues to humble me and show me how often my treasure lies in everything but Him.
2 months later...
On my last night serving in Chicago, I saw a familiar face at the dining hall: the beautiful smiling face of Susie. Susie was beaming. She sported a cute outfit, probably from the free store, and an adorable haircut that framed her face.
As she walked to the counter, a man tickled her and she giggled. I followed her to the table and sat down across from her. The man from the line soon joined us.
Over dinner, I listened to a romantic tale. Susie and this man were engaged! They met at the shelter. He had finished culinary school and was hoping to get a job in a restaurant. A local pastor planned to bless this beautiful couple with a free wedding in September and a three day honeymoon anywhere in the USA. Susie bashfully smiled, as her fiancé looked at her with a deep look of adoration. How simple and beautiful is the love they share. Praise God for giving them one another!
A very special part of the story for me is that he has grown children and grandchildren. They had recently returned from a trip to visit his family in Indiana. He told me how much they all loved Susan. His granddaughter asked if Susie was going to be her grandma. As he said this, my heart swelled. Susan was going to be GRANDMA SUSIE! How precious! I told them the significance that held for me since I too had a Grandma Susie that I loved very much, who had passed away.
You do not meet a Grandma Susie everyday...thank You Jesus for putting another one in this world. Thank You for a glimpse of Your goodness and faithfulness in the lives of the broken. There is hope in You. Greater things are yet to come!
Dear Susie, I will carry on your legacy. Thank you for opening up your world to me. I pray that God's love and favor will consume you. I will remember you.
*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality
On my last night serving in Chicago, I saw a familiar face at the dining hall: the beautiful smiling face of Susie. Susie was beaming. She sported a cute outfit, probably from the free store, and an adorable haircut that framed her face.
As she walked to the counter, a man tickled her and she giggled. I followed her to the table and sat down across from her. The man from the line soon joined us.
Over dinner, I listened to a romantic tale. Susie and this man were engaged! They met at the shelter. He had finished culinary school and was hoping to get a job in a restaurant. A local pastor planned to bless this beautiful couple with a free wedding in September and a three day honeymoon anywhere in the USA. Susie bashfully smiled, as her fiancé looked at her with a deep look of adoration. How simple and beautiful is the love they share. Praise God for giving them one another!
A very special part of the story for me is that he has grown children and grandchildren. They had recently returned from a trip to visit his family in Indiana. He told me how much they all loved Susan. His granddaughter asked if Susie was going to be her grandma. As he said this, my heart swelled. Susan was going to be GRANDMA SUSIE! How precious! I told them the significance that held for me since I too had a Grandma Susie that I loved very much, who had passed away.
You do not meet a Grandma Susie everyday...thank You Jesus for putting another one in this world. Thank You for a glimpse of Your goodness and faithfulness in the lives of the broken. There is hope in You. Greater things are yet to come!
Dear Susie, I will carry on your legacy. Thank you for opening up your world to me. I pray that God's love and favor will consume you. I will remember you.
*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality
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