1/26/11 "It don't do no good to do good to people. I thought I was doing something good for somebody, but they treated me so bad, bro. Anthony."

Elecia, Lord. You remember her. Sold at age six to grown men to support a mother's cocaine habit. Forty-four years old and looking sixty-ish. Selling her body because she's sold out to prescription pain killers. Taking the pain killers to kill the deeper pain. And thru it all, anxiety overrules love given and help offered. It's a slow, slow change.

"I better give you my knife, bro. Anthony, because I want to cut him." I took the three inch blade weapon and stuck it in my desk.

"Jeffry treated me so bad. His momma needed her medicines and stuff, so he brought me down here to these men to make the money to get her stuff, and then she told me I had to get out of the house," she cried. "And, I did it," shaking her head.

Then Elecia stiffened and angrily said, "I sold my a__ for two days on the street and these guys kicked me to the curb." She hung her head, "Excuse my cussin', and I really need a pill." We sat for a minute. Quietly.

"My best friend, I thought, used me and put me out. That hurts. I tried to help them but he took advantage of me," Elecia said almost in a whisper.

In a whisper, I said, "Jesus won't use you, Jesus won't put you out, Jesus won't hurt you, Jesus won't take advantage of you. Jesus will love you, Elecia.

"I love God, but He sure will take you thru some things, won't He bro. Anthony? I'm glad Jesus came down here so He can tell God what all we got to go thru. I'm so tired. O gotta go rest." Elecia wandered out, like she has so many times.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. John 1:14, The Message