Wednesday, my husband and I stopped at Burger King and had a egg and cheese biscuit before we went to church. (Ash Wednesday) I glanced and saw there were only two people in the place at that time. I thought to myself….I bet they just left the shelter.(Everyone has to leave at 7:00am) I felt kind of bad…wondering what lead to their circumstances, saying a prayer for them.

I was so shocked when the woman said “Hi Chris, how are you doing? Are you living here in town now?” I took a good look and saw it was an old friend. I asked her where she was living. She told me between two towns. She told me she had quit drinking but her boyfriend was an alcoholic and they fought a lot. I felt such a sense of despair.

I hadn’t seen her in over 15 years. So many thoughts flooded my head. I remembered when she use to have her nails done every week. Her hair done weekly as well. She had a great husband and two daughters that excelled in high school. I use to think…what a lucky duck…..here I was a single parent working two jobs to make ends meet and never had enough money left over to get my hair or nails done. I always wondered what it was like to be a stay-at-home mom. I don’t remember her drinking anything but pop back then.

I knew she had gotten a divorce. Her kids had disowned her because she had been seeing someone while still married. Obviously, husband #2 didn’t work out. I had gone to high school with him…..and my gut feeling…..it wasn’t good.

Needless to say, seeing her dressed in those tattered clothes with a men’s ski cap covering her dirty hair shocked me. I thought to myself, here is a person that has gone from having everything to losing it all. As we got up to leave, I noticed her putting on her coat….then I saw her pick up a pillow case. I assume that must be all her belongings. It was all I could do to not cry.

I am feeling so helpless. I don’t know what I can do to help her. I went looking at Burger King for her today without any luck. I’m not sure what I was going to say or do…but I just felt God wanted me to talk to her. I’m praying for her. I have such a burden on my heart for her. Threw our short conversation, she seems to have lost all hope.

I’m asking everyone to please include Annette in your prayers.