I walked aimlessly, leaving a trail of tears behind me. I was seventeen and had been withdrawn to Canada after living in the U.S. My grandmother and brother were still in Arkansas, 900 miles away. I was completely alone. 

I had been living in Ontario for three weeks with a family I had never met before arriving on their front porch – and now I was desperate to forget them. I felt shattered and deeply in need of rescue. But who? No one was coming, and that was a fact. Although I can’t recall expressing my prayers verbally, my tears conveyed the overwhelming sorrow and sadness in my heart, which seemed to be the only emotions I could experience during those days.

With no destination in mind, I stopped at an intersection in front of a red brick house. Wanting to avoid drawing attention to myself, I tried to clean my face and prepare to return to the place where I was staying. As I attempted to gather myself, I heard a woman call out as she approached, “Hey, are you okay?” Something in her voice brought so much comfort. When she got closer, she introduced herself and invited me to come inside her home for a cup of tea. 

Weary of barely surviving and in desperate need of comfort, I accepted. 

Dorothy guided me through her home and into the kitchen, asking me to overlook the mess as she eagerly prepared tea. Seated at an old, cluttered kitchen table, I shared my story for the first time — from childhood to the present. I recounted the heartbreak of my parents’ abandonment, the love I had received from my Abuelita who had moved from California to help raise us, and how I had to leave her behind in Arkansas after being withdrawn from the USA. I spoke of returning to Canada without a support system and the fear I felt about both the present and the future — yet the hope that Jesus was with me and the faith I had in Him.

I told her I was clinging to God’s promise that He would make a way if I continued to trust Him, even amidst the suffering. 

As I finished sharing, Dorothy looked at me, taken aback, and said, “Kid, you’ve been through some tough times.” We chatted a bit more, and over the next few weeks, we began to develop a new friendship. She quickly became part of my life. I no longer felt alone.

Dorothy helped me move out of the toxic situation I was in and settle into an apartment of my own. She sewed colourful curtains, lent me an old kitchen table, and found a broken-in loveseat I could borrow to furnish my new place. Somehow, our conversations always led to me sharing about Jesus. I wasn’t trying to convert her or be some kind of “holy-roller” Christian, but I knew that my life was the greatest evidence of God’s existence to a woman who wasn’t even sure she believed in Jesus. So, I just kept sharing authentically, vulnerably, always pointing to the hope we can find in Him.

As the years passed, Dorothy and I drifted apart. Life took us in different directions. I frequently thought of her and wondered whether I would ever get to fully express my gratitude for everything she had done for me. Unbeknownst to her, she embodied the love of Jesus, which He used to remind me that I was loved, seen, and cared for in a season when I desperately needed it.

A couple of years ago, my family was driving back from visiting friends near Toronto and I recounted the story of Dorothy and her importance to me. As we exited the freeway and stopped at a red light, I noticed a woman standing at a bus stop to my right — it was Dorothy! It felt like a movie! There she was, after not seeing her for over twenty years. 

“There she is!” I exclaimed, shell-shocked and filled with adrenaline. 

My husband pulled the car over, and I jumped out of the vehicle, my family in tow. I ran toward her, calling out her name. Dorothy immediately remembered me, and we embraced as tears streamed down our faces. We exchanged brief updates about our lives. She met my kids and was in awe that I was now a mom. She shared the heartbreak of her divorce and the unexpected changes in her health. 

Amid our updates, she said, “Ligia, one good thing happened. I became a Christian. I now believe!” With tears of gratitude, we embraced one more time and celebrated her newfound hope in Jesus!

Dear friend, one of our greatest blessings is God’s rescue story of hope, salvation, and redemption found only in Jesus. Our stories provide compelling evidence of God’s existence and steadfast love for us even when facing life’s challenges. Your willingness to share His goodness prepares the way for someone — whether now or later – to embrace the rescue that Christ offers. 

So, share your faith humbly and boldly. Testify about your need for Jesus unapologetically. You never know how your words are planting seeds of belief. 

 

Listen to Ligia’s devotion here or wherever you stream podcasts.

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