Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Pros and Cons (08/14/14)
-
TITLE: Delayed Positives | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mary Sue Moss
08/18/14 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
But Dale (the alcoholic-cousin) does come, and I accept him and cook a little more and watch mostly from the sidelines. It is my husband who measures out the teaspoons of liquor for two weeks to make sure Dale doesn’t go into delirium tremens; it is he who talks and listens and then when healing takes place offers Dale a job. After a friendly “Good morning” to start the day, I mostly ignore this cousin of my husband’s.
One day as I walk past Dale’s open bedroom door, I notice one more reason I can add to my growing list on the “con” side under the question Should Dale stay in our home? On the light grey carpet I see a smattering of body excrement, the results of gastro-enteritis. Our guest is in the kitchen washing the breakfast dishes. Two thoughts came to my mind. The first, “This is my husband’s idea and his relative, so he can clean it up.” The second thought is that I can give the cleaning materials to the one who made the offending spot and use the opportunity to teach a little responsibility.
I choose neither of these options, but instead touch my knees to the floor and start scrubbing. Another unholy thought comes to my mind. “If this doesn’t come clean, the church’s assistance committee will get the opportunity to bless me with a new carpet.”
I keep scrubbing. Unexpectedly, I find tears wetting my cheeks, and I feel an overwhelming love for my Jesus and for the cousin in the kitchen. The Lord seems to say, “My child, your stiff-necked, stiff-armed welcome policy to this man isn’t love. It’s wood. (I Corinthians 3:12). All the meals you have cooked, the extra desserts you have fixed, and the special ice cream you have purchased isn’t love. It is hay. Your willing payment of an increased grocery and water bill isn’t love. It’s stubble. “
The guilt I feel from that verse is quickly changed by a touch of God’s mercy as I am also reminded that “if any man’s work abides…he shall receive a reward.” (I Corinthians 3:14). I now can scrawl in big letters on my list my first “pro” entry: heavenly rewards. At least the bigger letters fill the empty space on the pro side.
I wish I could say that Dale turns to Christ and gives up alcohol and goes on to live a productive life. He doesn’t. He goes back to the streets with the approach of summer, and he dies of alcoholic poisoning three years later.
This case is closed or so I think. The lessons learned are good if it ends right here. But it doesn’t. The Lord has more for our family.
Dale’s son and wife fly to Iowa from New York for their father’s funeral, and they thank my husband for what he’s tried to do for their incorrigible father.
Six more years have passed and we learn that Dale’s son and family are moving back to Iowa. I run into Dale’s daughter-in-law at a bridal shower and she asks how my husband is doing. She’s heard that he’s been battling cancer. I tell her that we’re doing OK with the cancer stuff, but what he needs is a good business manager. His current bookkeeper is leaving and the books and business records are in shambles.
“Seriously? Your husband is hiring?”
Dale’s daughter-in-law rights the books for my husband’s business, and Dale’s debt is more than paid. It takes twelve years, but the pros list is now longer by far than the con side.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~
At one point where it mentions the "church's assistance committee" I thought that your husband may have been the preacher but that changed at the end of the story.
It is interesting how things work out while living by faith.
This is a good example for many of the rest of us in our lives.
Keep up the good work and the good writing.
God Bless!
The one red ink I offer is I would have written this in the past tense instead of present. I feel like it would have flowed more smoothly.
Overall, you did a fantastic job. I love the ending. God does work in wonderful ways. His fingerprints were obviously over the whole situation. Though the ending wasn't what the humans may have wanted, God saw and knew the bigger plan. He is so wonderful and amazing in that way, and I love the everyday ways he shows us his love and plans and for us. If you haven't entered the testimony contest, I'd really urge you to do so. You have a beautiful testimony here and it will touch many people in many ways.
You did a good job of presenting the conflict, both physical and the inner conflict. Thank you for opening that window. Keep up the wonderful work. I'm eager for your next one!