Leah. I hadn't heard much about her for years.
Leah. The name that my mother wanted to name me when I was born; Dad wanted a different name. That pretty name was always special to me.
It was March 1, 2003 and I received an email from Leah's mother - - out of the blue. Leah was in jail. Leah was 25 years old now and was in the worst way. She and the father of her two youngest sons had been arrested for the following:
1. Manufacturing meth.
2. Endangerment of children (which is considered a heinous crime.)
3. Owning a building housed with illegal substances.
4. Possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
5. Possession of paraphernalia.
Leah was badly strung out, refused to eat, and was on suicide watch. Leah's mother was told that they did not want to see her at that time because she was in a terrible condition; track marks, bruises, high, withdrawing from crank, suicidal; Leah wanted to stay in jail and see no one.
Leah's parents were talking to everyone that they knew to contact (Child Welfare, the tribal connections, etc.) Leah was told that she was looking at 20 years to life...
"Could I help?", Leah's mother's email ask me. Good grief!! I felt like I was reading a fiction story!
All I could do was cry.
For three days, I would read this lengthy email and cry, I would go to my couch and cry, I would go to my guitar to sort out my feelings and sing and cry, back to the computer, couch, guitar, cry, cry, cry... After three days, the song was ready. All that Leah's mother could take to her in jail was a Bible, so she wrote the words of the song inside the cover and took it to Leah.
"Leah, God gave you a song!"
LOVE WILL FIND YOU
(Click here to play this song.)
Today I heard what you're going through
I don't know how to help or what I can do
I've heard you've said, "Just let me be!"
The last time I heard those same words, they came from me
I'm a living testimony
When someone sees your pain and believes
That if they lift your name
The Help is there
I've seen it in my own life, the miracle of prayer
Love will find you
Love will find you
Psalms 107 has shown
If you're in the dark, you're still not alone
For hungry souls His mercy increases
He'll bring you into the light, and break those chains in pieces
Love will find you
Love will find you
Copyright PAu3-024-491/01-27-06/From The Heart (collective work)
Once Leah's head began to clear during her jail stay, she made friends, shared her "cool" song, read her Bible, and taught the other women inmates to exercise with her.
After her drug treatment, I'll never forget Leah with her bright eyes telling me that she thought that she would not be going to prison after all; she felt sure that she would only get a $50,000.00 fine. Leah had no home, no car, no job, no money... I was both relieved and still sick inside. Looking back, I realize now that my "sick inside" feeling was my lack of faith.
Ultimately, Leah was sentenced to 5 years probation (due to be off in 2008 with her record expunged.) No prison time; no fine.
She found a job, an apartment, and got her boys back together in their home.
What a testimony! God doesn't care what we've done when we come to Him for forgiveness. He just wants us to trust Him. Isn't that amazing? Even when we've made such a mess, His love will find us.
And to watch someone that I love so much lean on God and allow Him to guide her to put her life back on track.
"Leah, Love did find you, didn't He?"
Jesus to the rescue.
Below is a small portion of the email that Suzanne sent to a group of her friends, thanking them for helping her when she was injured in a bicycle accident:
"To you skeptics out there, let me just say, God is real and He will hunt you down. He loves you!!! We have such a narrow view of who God is and that perception limits us in how we believe in Him and how we let Him in. OH YEAH, one more thing, don't be afraid, you are stronger than you ever thought possible!!
Wow! Maybe there needs to be another song... "God Will Hunt You Down!" It would be another song with the "Love Will Find You" concept, but with a new spunky delivery! |
1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Credits:
Thank you to Leah's family for encouraging me like you do... and for your constant love and prayers.
Love Will Find You: Recorded by Jerry Alexander.
