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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Minute(s) (as in time) (03/03/11)
Sleep finally enfolded upon Taylor taking her into dream land. She immediately felt a sense of deep peace and rest. A great light and silence hung all around her.

Taylor began to think on the life she had just stepped out of. In her waking world, Taylor was filled with hurt, resentment, and un-forgiveness. She had long lost her joy in the Lord. Every night sleep evaded her. Taylor was still young, in her early twenties, yet she looked old and worn.

Her life had been rough. Abounding love did not take up residence in Taylor’s life. Her only sibling, a brother, died at childbirth causing un-reconcilable differences between her parents, who soon divorced.

Throughout her school years Taylor was a loner. She was a pretty girl, blonde and shapely, but quiet and introverted. Friends came and went, and none stayed loyally beside her. Then she met Jacob. He was a year older than her, very outgoing, popular, good looking, and an athlete. They became engaged in Taylor’s senior year of high school. They were to be married a year after her graduation.

Taylor being a Christian urged Jacob, a non believer, to have a meeting with the Pastor of her church. After a few sessions Jacob accepted Jesus as his Savior, and then became a member of Taylor’s church.

They planned a beautiful wedding inside a castle in Ireland. Every detail of the wedding was arranged and ready to go, and all was a gift from her father. All the parents were to be present. It was to be a wedding any woman would dream of.

But then just days before the wedding was to take place, Taylor’s best friend came to her with the news. Jacob had been seen with another woman. The wedding was cancelled and try as she might, Taylor could not stop going over every ugly detail that her friend had spread before her. Rejection, anger, and un-forgiveness took up residence in her soul, and God became a distant memory. Taylor fell away from church and prayer. She felt as though God had turned His back.

After a long period of time had passed with Taylor loosing site of her goals, her destiny with God, and many failed relationships, she knew that she could not continue in the direction she had chosen. She decided desperate action was needed, and she began a twenty-four hour fast and prayer.

At the beginning of the fast, Taylor dwelled on her hurts and the people who had inflicted them, especially Jacob’s betrayal. He had confessed the indiscretion and promised to repent and to never betray her trust in him again. But Taylor could not forgive. Not only could she not forgive and trust Jacob, it caused her to not trust any of her relationships.

God was patient in hearing Taylor’s accounts of all her wounds, and compassionately accepted her tears. He stood strong for her as she accused His lack of interest. He had promised long ago to never forsake her, and stood ground on that.

Knowing that Taylor was not aware she was still in sleep, and when the timing was right, God intervened into Taylor’s thoughts. He had a lesson for her to learn, and that was the lesson of forgiveness. He took Taylor to Jesus’ last supper, He showed her Jesus being betrayed, and He then took her to the cross. He showed her the blood that was shed for her and Jacob. God reminded her that the blood was shed for their sins, and so they could be forgiven. He asked Taylor, “Can’t you forgive as I have forgiven you? The hard part has all ready been done. You only need to say and mean the words, I forgive.”

Taylor was desperate for peace in her heart and soul. She wanted that relationship with her Heavenly Father again, and she did remember all that Jesus had suffered for her. Knowing this, Taylor willingly and completely forgave Jacob, and all who had hurt her. And she forgave herself.

Taylor awoke and looked at the clock on the night stand next to her bed. The minute hand had only moved 60 seconds from the last time she had glanced. She rolled over onto her side and marveled at how peaceful and free she had become. God had worked His miracle healing in her, during that one minute of time.
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This article has been read 721 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/14/11
This is a really good story. Taylor's pain felt real and many people can relate to that type of pain.
Something that would make your story even better would have been to show us instead of telling.For instance, instead of telling about her being a loner show it by describing girls picking on her.

You have a great idea and a good imagination, most writers struggle with the show vs. tell. Keep at it, with more practice and your natural talent you will have many great stories inside you.
Bonnie Bowden 
03/15/11
I liked how you shared Taylor's struggle with forgiveness to another who had betrayed her. It was very creative to have God reveal himself to her in a dream.
Leola Ogle
03/15/11
Life is full of pain and disappointments. I'm glad Taylor made her way back to the Lord. God bless!
Norma-Anne Hough
03/15/11
I enjoyed reading this. You did well by bringing God into her dream. Good write
Michael Throne
03/15/11
I enjoyed this story. I especially appreciated the description of God's vision.
Helen Carr
03/16/11
This is a lovely story, and (as with so many others' stories) I would love to know what happens the next day/week, etc. Well written with lovely descriptions.