This past Sunday, just before President Obama was to visit Elkhart, Indiana, I wrote an article concerning the need to move beyond huge numbers that depersonalize this economic crisis. Too often politicians get caught up in crunching these figures, and they forget that each person suffering in this economic crisis is just that... a person, a human being in need of the basics of life.

In my piece, I was hoping that somehow a human face could be brought into the spotlight. In an Elkhart Truth editorial they spoke of Cara Servantez, an Elkhart woman who had lost her job and was unable to take care of her family as she'd hoped to. Cara would have been a great person for the President to lift up during his town hall meeting. Although many worthy individuals asked questions, Cara was not mentioned during the President's visit.

Today, in Fort Myers, Florida, Obama held another town hall meeting. Although Cara was not in the picture, another woman shared her story of suffering with the President. Her face and her struggle searching for a home, will stay in the mind of America for a long time.

Her name is Henrietta Hughes, and President Obama treated her with the utmost respect as he approached her in her moment of need. It is important to watch the following video:

We do not need a poster child for this recession. We do, however, need to lift up the human pain that comes with these difficult times. Henrietta Hughes did that for the President today. Indeed, she did that for all of us. When Fort Myers residents heard of her plight, they responded with an out-flowing of generosity through offers of housing.

Thank you, Henrietta Hughes. Thank you for your grace, strength and courage. Today you spoke power and power returned your heartfelt plea with a kiss, open arms and the promise of change for a better life ahead.

May our leaders remember Henrietta Hughes. May they look into her eyes to see the pride that refuses to succumb and only asks for a hand to get up and onto her feet again. May they all understand that Henrietta Hughes and Cara Servantez are multiplied by millions of others who are in similar assistance at this time.

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Cross-posted from Reflecting Obama