Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Time-consuming (02/24/11)
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TITLE: Wasting Time | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mildred Sheldon
03/03/11 -
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“Hey Jade, what you up to,” as she brazenly walked through my kitchen door.
“I’m getting ready to defrost my refrigerator Megan. What can I do for you at this moment?”
“Nothing really. I just came over to talk. Can you stop what you’re doing and talk?”
“Megan, I want to defrost my frig, and no I don’t have time to talk.”
“Oh, Jade you’re a stick in the mud. Every time I come for a visit you are always busy. Don’t you ever stop to smell the roses? Life is so short and if you don’t enjoy it the first time around you don’t get a second chance.”
That remark hurt and my temper flared so I spoke through clinched teeth, “Megan, I’m not like you. You remind me of Mrs. Michaels who owned that house before you and your husband bought it. She would come over at the most inopportune times when I was trying to get my housework done. I use to tell her I was busy, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She use to tell me the same thing. She said I was wrapped up in time consuming things instead of living life.
“Was she wrong in saying that Jade?”
“No, she was right. She had such a beautiful outlook on life and she always talked about the Lord. She told me how Jesus helped her cope when her husband died. I was beginning to understand what she meant about enjoying life, and then she decided to move closer to her family.”
“Well, lets go shopping. You can finish cleaning your refrigerator later.”
“Megan I want to clean my frig, so if you don’t mind I’ll take a rain check if that’ okay,” I said very abruptly.
“Golly Jade, I’m sorry I got your britches in a twist, but I know when I’m not welcome. I’ll talk at you later,” Megan said jumping up and headed towards my kitchen door.
Megan stormed out slamming the door so hard I thought for sure she’d torn it off its hinges. That’s when I heard that still small voice inside my heart. ‘Jade, sounds like she needs a friend. Someone to talk to, but you’re trying to shut her out like you did Mrs. Michaels. What’s more important?’ I grabbed my purse and headed over to Megan’s. I started to knock on the door when it opened.
“Jade, you startled me. I didn’t hear you come up. I was just about ready to go shopping by myself.”
“Megan, I decided to forego the refrigerator and go shopping. I get so wrapped up in myself that I forget what friendship is all about. I’m truly sorry for my attitude and I apologize.”
“When my husband and I bought this house Mrs. Michaels told me you were a sweet person, and if I ever needed a friend I could come to you. She said you sometimes got wrapped up in time consuming jobs and missed sharing the Lord’s love, but a friendly reminder usually got you back on track.”
“I miss that old woman. She led me to Christ, and was teaching me so many things. She knew me so well. I bet she told you my tongue was so sharp it would cut through titanium, and you had to be persistent in getting my attention.”
“Megan looked me square in the eyes and said, “Jade, you are a hard person to reach, and yes I was forewarned about you. She said I’d have to be persistent if I wanted to reach you. Guess what, Jade? I’m a professional therapist who is trained in reaching out to stubborn people and I‘ve had years of experience.”
My jaw nearly hit the floor as I stared at Megan. It took a moment before I could speak, “Megan, you sounded just like Mrs. Michaels the way you said that. She use to read me the riot act, because I got so engrossed in time consuming jobs instead of spending time with God and people. I think it’s time I started smelling those roses again. It has been too long since I’ve spent a day enjoying life.”
Megan put her arm around my shoulder and said, “Well, today’s as good a day as any. Besides talking about the Lord is what I do best.”
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I think mentioning "time consuming tasks" only once would have been enough. You convey the topic well enough through the rest of your story that you don't need it.
I love that you chose "defrosting the refrigerator" as the task... It made me chuckle that someone would choose that instead of spending time with people.