A loud interrupting, knock on our front door brought my husband Bill to his feet. He rushed to open the door. It was 9 pm on a cold, damp evening in February. This seemed quite an unusual time for unexpected callers; we were both in the middle of our evening devotions.

Waiting patiently, I stopped my meditations, aware that this visitor obviously had something important to say. Apparently my husband Bill, who had some difficulty focusing on the new arrivals, kept the outer door ajar and waited.

It took only a few minutes for, three disheveled, wild youngsters and their mother to barge into our Mobile Home. In just seconds the children were all over the place like that scene of wild locusts in the Old Testament reappearing before our eyes.

This unpredicted invasion took my breath away. “For heaven’s sake! Who are you and where did you spring from?” I patiently addressed the frail, malnourished mother who stood before me carrying yet another toddler. With a daring smile of victory on her pale face, her sunken blue eyes happily admired our simple living-room.

“Oh this is so pretty! It is so good to be here,” she said. While she spoke, her three undisciplined ones raised havoc in a twinkling of an eye. Two girls ferociously landed over the couch. They were both frenziedly bouncing with an uneven rhythm as though they were on a big trampoline! A third girl, raided our granddaughter’s playpen with such unexpected swiftness, dismantling dolls, breaking toys and almost breaking our hearts with that, wild behavior.

In the midst of this chaos, I looked for my husband , who had voluntarily vanished from the room leaving me to face the evening visitors on my own. I realized that my previous question of what they wanted, was lost amid the pageant from life. I repeated my question raising my voice to stress my anger at the strange behavior of such an unwelcome family. After all, I am only human, with a full right in my own home, I thought.

“WHO ARE YOU?” I almost shrieked in her face “and why are you here in our home?” And wishing to scare her, I added “Do you not fear I would call the police?”

    As I uttered the threat, I was filled with a strange remorse, mixed with an inner feeling of sudden compassion for this frail girl and her out-of-control clan. Being a mother myself, I empathized with this miserable person as I fought back my tears. I felt I wanted to embrace her. Why she is just a child herself! She could barely be.. what? Nineteen years old with four kids? Maybe single too? Who knows.

       As I pondered, waiting for her to speak, I heard from her the most astounding answer to my question about calling the Cops!

“No Ma’m,” she said radiantly, “I knew you would not hurt me or my kids. I read the bumper sticker on your car, ‘Jesus is my Higher Power’ I even saw on your door, ‘Come in, the Lord Jesus lives here.”

The truth in that honest response hit me right in the face like a rock. “Dear God! What on earth have I done? She’s ever so right. Why certainly the stickers were meant to be there as a reflection of our life!”

“Because you dwell here in your highest power Lord, you have sent this girl to us to receive the help she may need for her family.” I silently began to pray, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness.

      Praise God for His guidance in bringing this girl  ( whom I shall call Cora.) After hearing the tragic story of how their trailer was burnt down, we sought more help from our church.

Through God’s grace, that unfortunate family’s needs were met. Within a few weeks they began a new life. The husband got a second job and they were happily settled in a new trailer.

      Now, as I reflect upon this past incident, I cannot but dwell upon the deep lessons I had learnt:

1. The desperate and needy may always feel safer when they resort to Christians for help.

2. . As I walk with Christ and trust His infinite power and unfailing mercy, I may need to back up  my own life and behavior with true obedience to the  Word of  God.

3. A sticker with a religious theme will never make a Christian into a compassionate child of God unless used in tune with a true Jesus-like character and Faith.

4. When truthfully and rightly chosen and used according to our own beliefs, stickers can tell people about Godand even about OUR DEEP TRUST in the Savior.

5. .May we always remember: A Bumper Sticker may strongly serve to lead even the worst sinner to the Everlasting Arms of Christ.

I therefore pray that in the life of many readers of this message, that genuine Bumper Stickers may continue to remain