Suitcase of Love

The patrol car drove up and parked, and the officer stepped toward me, where I stood with my homeless friends. “ Who’s Pam?” My homeless friends asked me, ‘ What have you done?”

I stood there, unsure what was unfolding, and answered the officer. “I’m Pam. I don’t have any warrants, do I?”

He laughed but then got serious. “A young woman was beaten by her boyfriend, and she’s pregnant. And now she’s walking a few blocks away,” he pointed. “She is staying at the women’s battered shelter nearby. Will you talk with her and maybe help her find a church group or someone who might get her a bus ticket? Her father lives in Missouri. She really wants to go home.”

I finished my goodbyes with my friends and took off in my car to find the young woman, who the officer said was wearing black slacks and an orange top. I drove up and down the streets, block after block, turned, stopped, backed up, and even saw the officer’s patrol car circling the same area. I would see him to my left and right, but NO girl. He was also going to try and find her.

I kept wondering how the officer drove around the blocks so fast, but then I saw the driver of one SUV; it was not my officer friend who stopped to get me. There were two patrol cars. I wasn’t losing my mind.

Back to the story ... I pulled up to a stop sign and said, “Lord, help me find this girl. I know you know where she is.” I’d then drove around for ten minutes or so and looked up. She was walking toward me on the sidewalk.

I stopped, got out of the car, and visited with her. My officer friend also pulled up. He gave some fatherly advice about abuse and the cycle, and then he got ready to leave but first said, “See, we do good things, too.”

I agreed, “ You made God smile. And I’m thankful you didn’t arrest me.”

The officer left, and after talking to my new, bashful friend, I knew helping her go to Missouri was in the plan. I first took her to a place where she could eat lunch (which she said had great chili dogs, and I checked online about bus fare prices. She said she had one small suitcase at the shelter but needed another. I whispered as I pulled my car back onto the road. “Lord, we could use a big garage sale about now, with a suitcase for sale.” Then I drove one, yes ONE block, and a sale took place on the right, and out front of a house, there was a blue suitcase. I dug in my purse. I had $1 ... one dollar. I don’t carry much cash, so I parked, stepped out of the car, and asked the older woman holding the sale. “How much is that suitcase?” She said, “Fifty cents.” I gave her the whole dollar and said, “It’s worth twice that.”

I learned that if I bought the bus ticket online, I’d save a little money, and then a friend blessed the expecting mom by paying for the extra baggage since my new friend packed her life’s possessions inside a giant box. Also, another friend took care of food money for the new-to-be mom.

All of this unfolded in record time, and God provided in a way that surprised both of us. But honestly, He’s the master of order and care and has the best plans.

So my friend packed her things, ready to take the bus. She had a 13-hour ride ahead and was scared but happy. She said goodbye to me, saying, “I don’t know how to be a mother.” I held her, “ You already are ... you are doing what you need to protect your child and to take care of yourself. You’ll do great.”

She waved as I drove away and stood at the bus stop, offering me a wave I’ll never forget. A smile I’ll always remember.

God allowed me to be a part of a fantastic day of laughing, praying, crying, hugging, and more ... joy unspeakable! A young pregnant woman was headed home, and by the end of the day, I still didn’t have any warrants out for my arrest!

If you’re wondering how the police officer knew to look for me, a homeless friend ( from earlier that morning) sent him to me. Yes, I have the best friends ever! And suitcases do sell for fifty cents on special days, too!