Bear

Good Morning!!! The CIG is loacated in downtown Lubbock.. Im originally from Dallas, and had only been to downtown once or twice in 12 years. I fell in love with the old buidlings and the people down here, it was a community that opened their hearts to me. The one thing that irritated me.... the homeless population, my heart was not very kind. As you all know,for the last 3 years I have worked & fed the homeless and poor,and now they are apart of me but the Lord had a lot of work to do in that department. Through the mission we met Bear... one of a kind. He is 6ft plus, 250 lbs, shaved head, more tatoos that I can count and the loudest voice I have ever heard(louder than me)A friendship started slow, getting to know each other. I learned he had been in and out of prison since he was 18... and back in for parole violation. Over the last 3 years his journey has taken him from the streets, to employed, having an apartment, loosing his job and his loosing his apartment. Shelby and I have walked him to jail because of another parole violation(heartbreaking). I sent letters and money while he was away. He was released in January last year. I learned what parole meetings were and made sure he went. Going back to the streets was not a option, he moved in with us. I learned what an ankle monitor was and his curfew(many times we were running into the house so no trouble was made) The Lord blessed him with a job across the alley....he was able after 5 months to get his own place. When I learned his company was moving across town in May, my first comment..."Who will feed him"? he eats with us breakfast and lunch. I try not to mother him but its tough (he is 45)...I want him to know, his past does not define him, the Lord has guided him and loved him even when he wasnt lovable to anyone else. Next month I will not see him at the bar everyday, and my heart breaks, but I also celebrate the work he has done in him and me. If you step out of your comfort zone and really allow the Lord to use you..wow I have no words, Im better because of Bear and I love him! The greatest love.... is when you love someone completely different from yourself. Happy Monday yall, if you pray to make a difference, the difference really happens in you:)