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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Favoritism (02/28/05)
Yesterday I was beginning to feel like the Prodigal Son’s brother felt when the father prepared the feast for his returning son. Envious of others who without much effort and living ungodly lives seem to have more than I.

My sons and I have a home-based embroidery business we operate from the living room of our home. I was in my make shift office in the kitchen figuring how to stretch the Social Security and income from the business to pay the bills. Always seems there are more bills than finances. After figuring and juggling and trying to decide what to pay, I found myself half listening to a popular daytime program on TV. The three young engaged couples on the show where there because they had moved in with each other before marriage and were having sexual problems. After much counseling and advice the couple that won for making most progress in their relationship was given prizes of wedding clothes, several thousand dollars, a honeymoon in some exotic place, etc. Even the other two couples were rewarded with cash prizes, much more than I would have needed to pay my bills!

Well, I bowed my head over my stack of bills and asked God WHY??? Being a Christian and wanting my life to be honoring to God I had married before living with anyone, struggled with finances, family problems, and a son with a seizure disorder. We were married 28 years before the Lord took my dear husband home after three and a half years of battling bone marrow cancer. Then my sons and I moved to the South to start our life over and for the last four and half years have been trying to run our business in a God honoring way and live a modest life style. Why can someone be rewarded with so much for a life style that is not honoring to God and facing a challenge they brought on themselves.

The answer to my prayer came when I talked to my son and he helped me figure out a way to pay what needed to be paid and trust the Lord to take care of the rest of the month. This made me realize like the Prodigal’s brother I didn’t need to be singled out and rewarded with material things because I had a far greater reward, constant fellowship with my Heavenly Father. Because Jesus died for me, my sins are forgiven and He holds me close and takes me through the storms of this life on earth until we all meet in Heaven. The peace God gives and all the other fruit of the Spirit which are love, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are far more precious than worldly wealth.

It made me realize that what those young couples needed for a successful marriage was not a good sexual relationship or all the material stuff they received but the unfailing love of God and each other.

The rest of the day went very well and I had a wonderful feeling of knowing that I was favored by God as He has taken me this far and would see me through my life here on earth and in the hereafter.
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This article has been read 980 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Karen Noblitt
03/09/05
I really liked your story. You touched on something we ALL ask God from time to time...WHY?? Sometimes life does not seem fair and as Christians we can be very tempted to live in defeat during those unfair times. You did a great job of showing that while life may not be fair...God is there, He understands and will get us through! Thanks for a wonderful story! Be blessed!
donna robinson
03/10/05
I can't tell you how much I can relate to the theme of this piece. You paint the picture we all live at some time or another. Great story and great personal spirit throughout this piece. Thanks for the read.
Crista Darr
03/11/05
This piece inspires me to set my mind on the things above rather than earthly things. In this fellowship comes are peace. Thanks
Phyllis Inniss 
03/11/05
We ask God why? and if we listen with patience he supplies the answer just as you say in your article. He showed you you can depend on Him for your needs and enjoy the fruit of the Spirit.
Shellie Power
03/13/05
This piece reminded me of how often I think "It's not fair." It does seem that the world's rewards are tempting but I know that the reward I have in Him will surpass everything.