I’m not so sure how to share this story. A person’s name is important. A person’s dignity is too. Usually the two are tied together. We dignify a person by knowing and stating their name. Sometimes you give more dignity when you allow a person to be anonymous. I’m leaving the names out today.

A classmate from high school, who lives in Roseland, came to the Center a few weeks ago. She was sitting on a couch in the waiting area when I was walking through. We made eye contact and I smiled. Her eyes were heavy, full, and needed to empty. “Something bad happened,” she whispered. I motioned for her to come into my office. As soon as the door shut she began to share the story about the father of her daughter (her daughter, 10 years old, lives in Chicago with her mom) who was shot four times in the head in front of a liquor store in Oklahoma City the previous weekend. He probably died after the first shot, but the killer fired three more bullets anyway.

She sobbed, her heart broken for her daughter, for herself. Still in shock over the news, this was the most she had been able to grieve. She needed money so her daughter could make it to the funeral in Oklahoma City. (I don’t say this lightly, but I have learned that one of the differences between the haves and the have-nots is the ability and the freedom to grieve. Grieving is a luxury that poor folks do not have. They have to scrape and beg for money to bury their loved ones first – then they can grieve.)

Within a few hours a supporting church of Roseland Christian Ministries responded to her need and was able to pay for a rental car that she drove to Oklahoma City for the funeral.

I don’t know why I’m sharing this story.

Then again maybe I do.  

I’m sharing her story because it weighs heavy on my heart and I can share it with you in trust. And I’m sharing her story because I am thankful for you. If you were not present for us in prayer, support, and encouragement we would not be present for her in prayer, support, and encouragement. There would be no Roseland Christian Ministries. And at the very least, a daughter would not have been able to bury her father. We are grateful for you. A mother and a daughter are grateful for you. I imagine that a father is too. Thank you for being present with us.

Peace,

Joe Huizenga
Director of Development
Cheerleader/Story Teller/ Stewardship Agent