Coates said his girlfriend told him, “‘Maybe you can shoot a prayer up to God real quick. I know you don’t really believe in him, but maybe you can start.”
And so he did pray for the first time since childhood. Then, out of the blue, Secret Santa shows up slipping $100 bills into his hand. A display of that kind of kindness from a total stranger the day after he prayed was too much of a coincidence for this atheist to bear.
“It’s amazing,” Coates said. “That to me was a miracle. That was God saying, ‘Alright, you had enough now. I’m going to show you something.’ So from here on out it’s up to me.”
After meeting Secret Santa, Coates checked himself into a treatment facility. And although he’s done it before, he says this will be the first time with a higher power at the helm.
“Maybe that gave him the hope that he needs to break his addiction,” Secret Santa said. “And maybe that will be the turning point that will change his life and maybe he won’t go back. Wouldn’t that be worth it?”
I’m proud to serve a God who answers the prayers of atheist heroin addicts like this. If you feel the same, pass it on.
