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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Write something AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL (10/02/14)
As His Majesty so is His mercy
My childhood passion was to climb trees and swing from the branches. Many times I fell and hurt myself and naturally ordered not to do it. It was hard to obey especially if the tree had low hanging branches. 
One day walking through my grandpa's garden I spotted just such a tree. It was grandpa's favorite papaya tree. I knew that papaya trees are fragile and break easily. But the low hanging branch was inviting me. I looked away, but could not resist the temptation. There was no one around. I tiptoed to the tree, glanced up, jumped up and caught the branch. Up and down I swung, and the joy of it thrilled my heart.
Lo and behold with an ominous crack the branch came down and deposited me on the gravel below. The hurt of my bruised body was nothing compared to the fear of the gravity of my crime and grandpa's anger. Limping and moaning I ran to my mother. She cleaned me up and treated my wounds. I pleaded with her not to tell grandpa.
She smiled at me and said," I can only treat your wounds, my child. I can't help you if you break a promise. You have to confess it to grandpa." Despite my tearful protests, she led me to grandpa's study opened the door and gently pushed me in and closed the door.
Grandpa was sitting in his big chair behind his big black shining mahogany desk. Smoke rose from his cigar up to the ceiling. His bushy mustache curled up at both ends like the tails of scorpions. His gold rimmed spectacles rested half way down his nose. He looked so terrible that I covered my face with my hands and shuffled my feet.
Grandpa looked up and said, "What do you want?".
I stammered in fear, "I .. I.. did it".
"Did what?"
Fear struck in my throat and I could not speak.
I pointed to the window.
Grandpa got up and looked out. There in plain view was the papaya tree and its broken branch. The look of astonishment on grandpa's face was soon changed to horror and anger.
"How could you do that to my tree?"
I covered my face, dropped to the floor and whimpered, " I am so...so...sorry..".
It was a long time before I felt grandpa's arms lift me up.
"Don't disobey me again" he said and kissed my tears away.
"I won't grandpa," I promised.
Decades have passed. Grandpa has passed away, but that experience has left it's imprint on my memory. Every time I enter the church and look up at the altar, I see in my mind, God the Father, seated on His throne, August in His majesty, Awful in His power and Awesome in His love, and experience the same feeling I had as a fi ve-year-old before her grandpa in his study. Like that broken branch my sins loom before me and if my repentance is genuine I know He will lift me up in His arms and Oh, what bliss that would be.
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This article has been read 596 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Buskirk
10/09/14
This account is written beautifully. As I read, I began to expect a comparison to God's forgiveness. However, your ending was more unique than I imagined. It reflects the awesome power of God, as well as His capacity to love and forgive. Thank you for the blessing of this article today.
C D Swanson 
10/09/14
Beautiful message and meaning to this well written and moving biography.

Thanks for sharing.

God bless~
Norma-Anne Hough
10/09/14
I really enjoyed the read. Your description of the encounter with the grandfather was well done.
I liked the way you tied it all up.

Brenda Ottinger
10/16/14
Congratulations :)
C D Swanson 
10/18/14
Congrats!
GOd bless~
Nancy Sullivan 
10/19/14
Congratulations on your 3rd place, Shanta. Your grandfather sounds so wonderful and what a blessing to have him to teach you about true grace. Great entry!
Lillian Rhoades 
10/22/14
Congratulations, Shanta, on your third place win. I knew this would do well! :-)