Beloved Mama

If THEY just worked harder- they wouldn't need welfare
If THEY weren't so lazy- they could get a job
If THEY would just get the right job- they would have health insurance
If I were THEM- I would just work several jobs to pay off my debt
THEY don't have to live THERE- there's always a way out
Well- that's their fate, I'm glad it's not mine...
If they just prayed harder...they wouldn't be in THAT mess

and then THEY- THEM- and THERE became ME- MYSELF- and I
Yep, I've been there...

several college years later plus one masters degree
working overtime and a half...

We found ourselves THERE...
the place I once looked down on,
the people who I wanted to minister too...because I was a bit better-
NO, I didn't really think to myself- "Girl, you are better than them,
You have money, You have clothes, You live in the right neighborhood...
Now let's go minister to some poor, ghetto, welfare folks...let's show them God's love down there in the ghetto..."
No, I didn't think that really...
but in a backwards way...
I wanted to minister to THEM, but
I would never live THERE
I wanted to show Christ's love, but
I would never want to be like THEM
I wanted to give my money for missions, programs, and hugs
BUT, I didn't TRULY want to get to know them- TRULY just be THEIR friend
Just know them for them
Not for ME

and then...

I found myself waiting in the welfare line
I found myself without health insurance
I found myself wondering where the next meal would come from, how the bills would be paid, where to take my sick kids, how the gifts would be bought, would the phone be turned off, sleeping on mattresses without frames...
I found their fate, much like my own when I was tracked by security while shopping as a young mom... and again when a shop owner accused me of stealing- for all to hear
I found myself praying and still in THAT mess
I found myself living THERE
I became THEM

and suddenly...
THAT, THERE, THEM became
ME, MYSELF, and I

and I realized that we are all merely a step away
from being THAT, THERE, THEM...

and I realized that even if I think I understand THAT, THEM, THERE... situation...
I've never TRULY walked in THEIR shoes...

and I realized that GOD is so HUGE that
HE will become very very small, just for me...and for THERE and for THEM

and I realized that GOD hears my prayer...
THEIR prayers
Our prayers
even when we don't think he is listening

and that US, THEM, THERE...
we truly are no different...no better...no worse

and that there was indeed a reason...HE became like US...like Them...and lived THERE
AND HIS fate- truly was for US ALL...