Grace in the Back Seat

 

The man in the back seat was a homeless man we had met at the bridge. Twelve days earlier, at same bridge, he was wild eyed, eyes red as blood and filled with tears, anger and anguish pouring out of him like sweat. He was suicidal and homicidal. He was crying out for help. Later that evening he cried out to God and made Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior.

Twelve days later we all had just left church. We were on our way to get lunch. His eyes were not red anymore but white as snow, white as snow was his soul, forgiven and redeemed because of the red that flowed from Jesus. There was peace and a smile on his face. His eyes sparkled and still wet at times, but now it was because of gratefulness.

I know people wonder, “What  do you talk about in the car.” This day we talked about hair, yes, hair. He noticed my hair was puffier than normal. My husband laughed telling him my hair was natural curly and when wet, it springs up like tight little springs.  I’m always fighting those springs with the blow dryer, big rollers and a flat iron. When there is humidity in the air as was the case this day, my hair puffs.

The man in the backseat laughed telling us in a loving way about his momma having had natural curly hair. This momma, who had to give him up when he was four because she and the dad were alcoholics and could not take care of him. Because of this, he ended up in foster homes that were not loving and bad memories he carried out of there with him.

But this day, we talk about curly hair and I sat in the front seat thinking of grace and how truly amazing it really is. The man in the backseat, because of Jesus, was able to forgive his parents and could reminisce of something lovely, such as his momma’s natural curly hair. Of all the turmoil he went through for years, God blessed him with a sweet memory who in turn shared it with us.

I silently sat in the front seat and asked God to forgive me for all the times I complained about my thick head of natural curly hair. Maybe someday, it will be a lovely memory to someone down the road.