Send Someone
The week the trial was over I remember slipping into a deep
depression. All the weight of my emotions—I had pictured would be lifted—still
settled deep inside. The fears that haunted me had not ceased. That miracle
rooftop moment of healing I had craved, still had not come. I was still
hurting; I was still broken. It didn’t make sense. Rob had been sentenced—shouldn’t
I have felt some sort of instant relief?
It was time to be back on my normal routine. I was walking
kids to school and packing lunches. I was scrubbing toilets and folding
laundry. I was doing all of the normal mom things I had always done, but
instead of feeling a sense of freedom from the past—I was grieving the reality
that my burdens did not feel lighter.
Early one morning—I believe it was a Monday—I loaded my car
with kids, dropped the four big kids off at school and headed to the grocery
store. I dreaded being in public. As I drove tears fell down my face and the
cloud of gloom—I thought had been bad—steadily grew worse.
By the time we pulled up to the grocery store I was a mess. I
didn’t want to be seen in public; I did not want to have another stranger walk
up to me and ask how I felt about Rob’s sentence. I didn’t want to get out of the car. I said a
small prayer as I turned off the ignition. I whispered in my mind, “Heavenly
Father . . . I can’t kick this darkness. What is wrong with me? It is over . .
. and I can’t let it go. Today . . . I need help. Please send me . . . send me
someone to help me. Please send me someone who can ease this burden. I am alone
. . . I feel so alone. I need someone to help me. Please help me feel less
alone, please send me . . . send me someone to ease my pain . . . send me
someone to help me learn how to live normal life again—a friend—someone to help
me remember how to keep going—help me find a purpose. Please send me someone.”
I wiped my tears, got the kids out of the car and we headed
into the store. In my fog, Kaleeya, Tytus and I wandered the aisles without
much order. They snacked on crackers and giggled with each other. I quietly
grabbed things off the shelf and threw them in the cart.
Soon, we found ourselves in the bulk food section. I began
filling bags and writing down the corresponding number on the ticket. From the corner
of my eye I saw a woman standing in the aisle and staring into her cart. I
turned my head towards her. Something felt wrong. I stared for a few seconds
trying to piece together what she was doing. She didn’t move her gaze from her
cart. Instantly I felt this strong urge to help her. The first thought that
popped into my mind was to offer to pay for her groceries. Trying hard to mind
my own business, I brushed the thought aside and pushed my cart around her and
headed to the other end of the store.
We made our way to the dairy section and loaded the cart
with milk and eggs. The nagging feeling again came over me and ushered me to go
back and offer the woman some financial assistance. I battled with my thoughts
and—like I had many times—I talked to myself . . . directly at myself. First of all Ashlee . . . you have enough of
your own problems to deal with. You don’t need to worry about someone else’s
burdens. You don’t even know what is wrong with her. What makes you think she
isn’t going to be insulted by you offering her money? Besides, how many
purchases do you need to make in the next few days for your own family? You are
not going to embarrass this poor woman by making her feel like a beggar on the
street. Just finish shopping and go home.
Again, I shrugged off the impression. But as I walked, I
found my cart turning to the back of the store and again past the bulk section. She was still there—looking into her cart,
and then back at the food in the bins. In
a panic, I veered my cart down the baking aisle.
I was almost in tears. I silently prayed. Heavenly Father, what the heck is going on?
I see this lady standing here in this grocery store and I am overwhelmed with
this feeling that I need to help her buy food? I can’t do that . . . I won’t.
First of all, she is going to think I am judging her. She is going to be
embarrassed—I am going to make her feel like a charity case. She looks like a
very hard working woman—I don’t want to insult her. Plus, Kaleeya needs a new
winter coat. Tytus needs new shoes. Bailey and Bostyn need piano books, and
Jordyn and Teage keep asking for new hats. We have plenty of things in our own
life where our money needs to go. Why would I spend it for someone else? I am overwhelmed with my own burdens and
trials . . . plus . . . I can’t embarrass this woman. I am just . . . not going
to take this on today. I am going to mind my own business and go home.
I started to move my cart forward to walk away. My once
clouded mind became full of a very clear plan. Get into your wallet and give her the money inside.
In humility, I stopped the cart. I was sure there was no
money inside my wallet—I rarely had cash. As I opened my wallet—in a zipper I
hardly ever used—I found a one hundred dollar bill. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered where it
came from. After much healing in our relationship during the mediation (when we tried to mediate the murder trial),
Emmett’s mom had sent a card with money to take the kids to a movie. I had
thrown the money in my wallet, but used my credit card at the theater.
I stared down at the money in my hand. I guess Heaven had a plan for you little bill. I choked up as I
squeezed it in my grip. I slowly pushed my cart toward the back of the store,
with the money still tucked in my palm.
This money—and all
that I have—isn’t really mine anyway . . . is it?
There she was—still in the same spot she had been for the
last twenty minutes during my pity party rebellion. I pushed my cart alongside
hers and stopped. I grabbed her arm and she turned and looked at me. I chocked
out my words. I said, “I know you have no idea who I am . . . and I have no
idea why I am doing this. I hope I do not offend you in anyway, but I . . . I
just need to give you something. So from one stranger to another, this is for
you.”
I opened my sweaty palm to reveal the money. She looked down
and burst into tears. She spoke through her sobs, “How did you know? I have
been standing here for a long time, trying to figure out how to pay for all
these groceries. I have $12.00 in my bank account. How did you know, I needed
help . . . I needed someone to help me. Thank you. You are an angel for me
today.”
She threw her arms around me and continued to thank me as we
embraced. My heart was so full I could feel Heaven surround us. We held each
other for a few more words and sobbed together. She thanked me, and again asked
how I knew.
I said, “Have you ever had one of those moments where
Heavenly Father asked you to do something, and you almost thought He was crazy?
The last twenty minutes I have been fighting the feeling to help you. But I
couldn’t walk away. I do know this . . . His love for you was stronger than my
pride. You are loved, and today I think He needed you to know that in a
different way. Thank you for letting me
be the one to help you. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season.”
She hugged me again and we said goodbye.
I will probably never know her name. I have no idea what her
story is. But that day, when I begged Heavenly Father to send someone to help
me—He asked me to step outside of myself and help someone else who needed Him.
Maybe I was an answer to her prayer—I will never know for
sure—but she was the answer to mine.
Everyone is hurting. Some days God sends us little angels to
remind us that we are not alone; other days He sends us to be the angels—to
help us understand the world revolves around so much more. While surrounded by
another’s pain, it is easy to forget our own for a moment.
For years everyone around us had lifted me—finally He let me
take my turn to carry some of the load.
To anyone who has ever felt alone . . . you are not. He is
near, I can promise you. He has heard your pleas—sometimes for a temporary
need, and other times for an answer on how to live again after one of life’s
trials.
All of us—all of God’s children—are pleading for something.
That day I was pleading for Him to send me someone. But “being that someone”
reminded me of His love, not only for His daughter who needed Him . . . but for
myself.
Be that someone. When
you can’t remember why life is worth living—remind someone else all the reasons
they should.
He can’t always send us exactly what we think we need . . .
but His path is exactly where we need to be.
Heaven had a plan for that little one hundred dollar bill .
. . and your Heavenly Father has a plan for you. Maybe you have been crumbled a
few times; maybe you have been lost in a dark wallet for a while . . . but your
worth is great to Him. He hasn’t forgotten where you have been left alone. He
still remembers how you have hurt as you have waited for a break from the pain.
Maybe you have been used; maybe someone has told you that you were not worth
much. No matter how many times you have felt like you have paid for some one
else’s happiness—or for someone else’s pain—you are still a one hundred dollar
bill.
As prized as the day you were born, Heaven has a plan for
you. Maybe He can’t always send someone to pull us out of the darkened day . .
. but He sent His Son to earth to live and to die for us. That alone is enough
for us to know how great our worth must be—that even our story can be made
whole through Him. God didn’t just send someone—He sent THE One.
Maybe I thought I needed an angel that day—but being one
brought me closer to Heaven than I had ever been.
15 comments:
Great reminder! Thank you.
What is meditation? Also, I hope one day you can write about your current relationship with Emmett's family.
You are amazing. I love reading your blog and following your story, the story that keeps growing because you are growing. I want to give you a hug.
You are amazing. I love reading your blog and following your story, the story that keeps growing because you are growing. I want to give you a hug.
Oh how I loved reading this today. Often the answer to our prayers is to be the answer to someone else's prayer. I am glad you followed the prompting and listen to your heart. What a great story and training builder!
Very touching. This was a wonderful reminder that giving is the best gift you could ever receive for yourself. Thank you.
Oh my goodness, Ashlee, I am a complete mess! What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for the reminder. I have felt those little tugs from God myself from time to time...it's it amazing? You have such a gift for written words. I truly enjoy your blog. Your strength astounds me. God bless you and your family.
I needed this, thanks.
Such an awesome amazing story Ashlee!! Thank you so much! I knew there was a reason God sent me to your website today:) xoxox
Melody
This is so beautiful. I was struggling a lot today trying to heal from childhood abuse and domestic violence. There are times when I get angry with the situations I was placed in and feel abandoned by our Savior even though I know logically He is ALWAYS there. Thanks for this beautiful post. I know without a doubt I was led to it. I also needed to be reminded that our worth can not change. We brought it with us. In our society we define ourselves by labels but the Lord just sees us as His beautiful children. Keep shinning your light! It will bless more than you know. Sending you love and light and an extra measure of grace!
I love your blog, and love your book as well! I can't wait to buy volume 2! When is it going to be available?????? :)
Love this, made me cry!
I love reading your posts...but I should remember to have a box of tissues by me when I do. You are a wonderful woman. With all the trials that you are facing & going through...you not only turn to your Heavenly Father but you listen to Him as he urges you to love & serve others. I wish you knew how beautiful of a woman you are inside & out. I hope that you have a good support system of friends in your area that let you know how special you are...to your children, your new husband, your neighbors, your friends & to all those suffering from betrayal, dishonesty, lies, or feel broken in any way. You have touched hearts across many states. I live in your city & have never personally met you...but I hope that if I do cross your path at a kids sports event, or at some local event that I will recongnize you & that I will be brave enough to throw you a smile of approval, maybe give you a hug. Thank you for enduring this trial as well as you can & for not turning bitter & ugly. You are doing the right thing & helping your family & others to get through trials, lonleiness (sp?) & heartache! You are a very special woman...don't let anything Emmett did define you. He missed out on an opportunity to love you & those little ones. I don't want to sound rude..but you really do deserve a man who treats you better than he did...hopefully you are getting that from your new husband.
I have your blog saved in my list of blogs I read but I haven't read it much lately due to being busy in my own life. Today I was scrolling on a news site and your story popped up ( https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/27383187/wife-of-man-shot-dead-by-lovers-husband-confronts-other-woman-on-tv/ ) and I clicked on it wondering if it was about you and it was. I only watched a few minutes of the video as it made me feel so uncomfortable like I was spying in on your personal life and it wouldn't have changed my opinion on what happened anyway. I came to this post and it made my heart sing. I have been going through a tough time (unemployed, no jobs coming up) and this post as reassured me that even though it may not feel like it God has a plan for me :)
<3 xxx
Thank you for this. Today was a day that suicidal thoughts plagues my mind and hope just barely won the day. I needed to see this today. I needed to remember we're never alone and never unseen.
I am so sorry for your dark day. Keep winning! The fight is hard but the victories come every morning. Please know you have friends here. 💜
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