The sun is just beginning to set. The straps of her heels are fastened on tightly. Her fitted dress is zipped up. Makeup is applied carefully to her face. The kids have been put to bed. It’s time for work. She walks slowly down the sidewalk, trying not to roll her ankle on the uneven ground. She steps over trash littered on the street, tossed away by a stranger without a care. There’s music with a pounding beat in the background. She keeps walking. The music gets louder. She arrives at the bar on time. Other women are there, ready to work. They were all children with different dreams at one point, but they’ve all ended up at the same place. She sits at the front of the bar, waiting for a customer. Who will it be this time? What will he think of her? Maybe this time, it will work out. Maybe he’ll love her for who she really is. Maybe this time, she won’t be left feeling like trash littered on the street, tossed away by a stranger without care. Maybe he’ll decide she has worth. Maybe he’ll even marry her. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll make her dreams come true.
The sun is just beginning to rise. She slips on her sandals. She dresses in a comfortable blouse and jeans. The kids are at school. It’s time for work. She walks steadily down the sidewalk, knowing exactly where to go. She admires a flower growing beautifully out of a crack in the street, surviving and flourishing despite its surroundings. There’s music with a pounding beat in the background. She keeps walking. The music gets quieter. She arrives at her salon on time. Other stylists are there, ready to work. They were all slaves with different backgrounds at one point, but they’ve all ended up at the same place. She sits at the front of the salon, waiting for a customer. Who will it be this time? What will they need to hear? Maybe this time, they’ll be someone in need of hope. Maybe they’ll need to hear about the One who loves her for who she really is. Maybe they’ll need to hear about the One who helped her grow beautifully out of a bar on a street, surviving and flourishing despite her surroundings. Maybe they’ll need to hear about the One who’s taught her that she’s priceless. Maybe they’ll even need to hear that He can do that for them, too. After all, He made her dreams come true.