This morning, Leah and I went to get her braids taken down.... and put right back in.
Because I don't know of a shop that does toddlers' hair close to where we live, we go to Hyde Park (my old neighborhood) to get it done.
I love Hyde Park.
It's aesthetically beautiful and there is a richness in culture that I adore.
While I was waiting (three hours) for Leah, a woman and her 10 year old daughter arrived at the store.
The mother was irate.
She claimed that the store had burned and subsequently ruined her daughter's hair.
The mom was loud and demanding.
I could tell the manager wasn't sure what to do.
But mama bear wasn't leaving.
During one of the manager's many trips to the back of the store, I started talking to this angry mother.
Not about hair ..... but life.
She softened and asked me about my daughter (who we couldn't see).
Mind you, this is an African-American salon.
There ain't no white people there.
And then there's me. :)
We started talking about my kids and I showed her a picture.
She asked where they are from.
(Naperville and Uganda)
In a tender moment, the not-so-angry woman said,
"God bless you"
and grabbed me to give me the biggest hug.
And she didn't let go.
When the hug ended, she had tears in her eyes as she shared that she knows there are so many children who need families and understands why adoption is important, but her plate is full with six biological children.
And then she continued.
Her 18 year old was murdered just a year ago.
Yes, murdered.
Can you take that in?
Another of her sons was shot 18 times (yes, you read that right) in June and is now in jail.
He survived, but with what wounds?
This sweet, broken woman then started talking to me, cheerfully and lovingly.
She told me from the mundane (how to care for Leah's hair) to the serious (how dangerous it is "out there.") Somewhere in there, we both became human.
I wish I would have asked for this woman's contact information so I could follow up with her.
I wish I would have prayed with her.
I wish I could have done more to encourage her.
Because there is more to be done.
I have been spending some time at Breakthrough Urban Ministries lately, helping with little projects.
Driving from my suburbia home to Breakthrough is an eye opener.
Just today, I saw a man, sitting in front of a store sign, by the street.
Clearly homeless.
Animated.
Talking up a storm with his hands to himself (or anyone who would listen).
In the neighborhoods surrounding Breakthrough, the poverty is breath-taking.
People are desperate.
Not for the next video game, but for the next meal.
And for peace in their neighborhood and an end to violence brought on by financial desperation, drugs, and gangs.
It is so easy in my peaceful neighborhood to forget those who sit just a couple of miles from us.
The need is here and I want to be part of the solution.
Lord, show me how.
In the meantime, I am thankful for my trips to Hyde Park with Leah where I can get pulled out of suburbia and remember that we are so blessed and are commanded to give out of that blessing.
"Lord, thank You for helping me to keep it real.... even without traveling to Africa or another distant land. You are Lord of all. Help me to follow Your steps better. Amen."
