CC and I had gone to town for a quick break from work to grab a bite to eat, change the oil in the business van and pick up some supplies for the shop and the snack for the Children's Ministry Tuesday night.
I had run into Dollar General to pick up some things that my boss needed, and headed for the cashier's desk. After paying for my groceries, I got ready to pay a separate check for the shop supplies with the business card. That's when I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, the young woman standing behind me in line. She was smaller than me, probably Hispanic, and was alone with a basket of groceries on her arm. She was acting all antsy, like she needed to use the bathroom really bad, or like she was listening to some salsa music, but I didn't really give it much thought.. after all, there are all types of people in this world, you know.
So when the cashier needed me to swipe the card again because it was declined, (How in the world is a Choice Books card gonna get declined?!?) I was like, man, forget it, let her go ahead and I'll wait for my husband to come in to handle this. The little lady acted so relieved, and she like, shoved her basket of stuff on the counter... and then she turned to me and said, "He (referring to Micah, who was patiently standing by my side) is so good." I was like, "Thanks!"
It was then that I noticed, as she pushed her groceries across the counter, that the sleeve on her extremely cute white blouse raised up a little, and exposed a dark, nasty looking bruise. I was like, wow, that looks like it hurts.. and figured that she must have fallen (the classic excuse) and left it at that.
But then she jumped, like someone had poked her, and she gasped and left the store before the cashier could even pull anything out of her basket to scan it. He and I kinda looked at each other like, "Ooookaaaayyyy..."
I watched her run up to a dented up yellow 2-door car that had pulled up beside the curb in front of the store and open the door and talk to the guy in the drivers seat.
My heart burned in anger as he slapped her and screamed at her in Spanish to get in the car now; she got in, shut the door and the car screeched off.
That bruise wasn't an accident. She had gotten beaten. That's why she was in such a hurry to get her groceries and leave. She was in fear of getting beat because she wasn't out on the curb waiting when that guy pulled up. And because she wasn't there, she did get beat.
What do you do? I didn't even get her name. Or where she lived. I can't even speak Spanish. I can sorta understand it, but not much.
Man, I prayed, tho. I prayed that we would cross paths again, and somehow, someone could tell her that she is loved by God Almighty, unconditionally, and Who would never expect the impossible out of her, and then beat her when she didn't meet up to His standards. She has a purpose in life, and she is wanted.
This is why my heart is here.
This is why I serve.
I had run into Dollar General to pick up some things that my boss needed, and headed for the cashier's desk. After paying for my groceries, I got ready to pay a separate check for the shop supplies with the business card. That's when I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, the young woman standing behind me in line. She was smaller than me, probably Hispanic, and was alone with a basket of groceries on her arm. She was acting all antsy, like she needed to use the bathroom really bad, or like she was listening to some salsa music, but I didn't really give it much thought.. after all, there are all types of people in this world, you know.
So when the cashier needed me to swipe the card again because it was declined, (How in the world is a Choice Books card gonna get declined?!?) I was like, man, forget it, let her go ahead and I'll wait for my husband to come in to handle this. The little lady acted so relieved, and she like, shoved her basket of stuff on the counter... and then she turned to me and said, "He (referring to Micah, who was patiently standing by my side) is so good." I was like, "Thanks!"
It was then that I noticed, as she pushed her groceries across the counter, that the sleeve on her extremely cute white blouse raised up a little, and exposed a dark, nasty looking bruise. I was like, wow, that looks like it hurts.. and figured that she must have fallen (the classic excuse) and left it at that.
But then she jumped, like someone had poked her, and she gasped and left the store before the cashier could even pull anything out of her basket to scan it. He and I kinda looked at each other like, "Ooookaaaayyyy..."
I watched her run up to a dented up yellow 2-door car that had pulled up beside the curb in front of the store and open the door and talk to the guy in the drivers seat.
My heart burned in anger as he slapped her and screamed at her in Spanish to get in the car now; she got in, shut the door and the car screeched off.
That bruise wasn't an accident. She had gotten beaten. That's why she was in such a hurry to get her groceries and leave. She was in fear of getting beat because she wasn't out on the curb waiting when that guy pulled up. And because she wasn't there, she did get beat.
What do you do? I didn't even get her name. Or where she lived. I can't even speak Spanish. I can sorta understand it, but not much.
Man, I prayed, tho. I prayed that we would cross paths again, and somehow, someone could tell her that she is loved by God Almighty, unconditionally, and Who would never expect the impossible out of her, and then beat her when she didn't meet up to His standards. She has a purpose in life, and she is wanted.
This is why my heart is here.
This is why I serve.
2 comments:
That is horrific!
awww.. jen, that is soooo sad.. i'll pray for her... even though i dont know her.
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