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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: GATHERING (07/14/16)
Penelope knew this day would come but that knowledge did not prevent her from the nagging hope of a different outcome. This tiny golden haired ten year old girl may be frail in stature, but a warrior in prayer. Ever since the diagnosis, she believed her God would heal her. In her few years of life, she had developed an unwavering faith in her Lord. You see, life had never been easy and He had been her true refuge.

She was born into a volatile family where her mom and dad’s fighting brought regular visits from the local authorities. Even when she would spend several hours of the day vomiting from the chemo, they would find something to argue about. Their own selfish rage blinded them to the ocean of tears she cried in silence but she found peace knowing her God saw.

Her Jesus never failed her. Sometimes she believed His hands were tenderly holding her curly hair during her most violent vomiting spells. Her prayers became more like daily conversations she held with her best friend. She was the epitome of child-like faith spoken of in Scriptures.

Once the cancer seized total control, Penelope found herself in bed with no appetite, no strength to play, watch television or sing her favorite songs. Even then she trusted that God would heal her because she had a plan that had not yet come to fruition. This plan was constructed in her head with a variety of scenarios but each one resulted in the salvation of her parents. Oh, they dusted off their Christian masks each Sunday before entering the Baptist Church safely planted over thirty miles from their home, but their life did not reflect the love of the God she knew so well.

The truth of her parents’ explosive relationship was hidden from their congregation by the miles that separated them. Not living in that neighborhood kept their secret. Well….the time came for the blinders to fall off and for eyes to fully see and ears to fully hear. But, at what cost? For Penelope, no cost would be too great; however it would take a few years of grieving before her parents agreed.

They had gathered around their precious child. Mama was lying on the bed next to her, holding her like a fragile China doll. Daddy was kneeling beside her bed, fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to steal his persona of strength and control. Penelope with her shallow breathing and pale angelic look just laid there not realizing that her parents were witnessing her last moments this side of eternity.

Silence filled the room. There was no screaming, blaming or hurtful words being said. There were just two people hushed by the life of their child fleeing before their very eyes. Nothing could have prepared them for this moment. In unison they looked at each other and for a brief second each felt the love for the other much like they felt on their wedding day. You could almost see a surprise come across their face with this unsuspected emotional surge.

“Mommy. Daddy” Penelope suddenly whispered.

Jarring her back into the present moment, “Yes darling?” mama asked.

“Do you see them?”

“See who?” Daddy responded.

“The angels of course! They have gathered here to take me home!

Tears began to stream down both of their faces as they moved in closer. Their hands instinctively reached out for each other in an embrace that sent shivers down their spine.

“Don’t cry for me mommy and daddy! I am not hurting for the first time in a very long time! She took a shallow breath and said “God and I love you so much!” A few more shallow breaths…and then nothing.

They both fell on top of her sobbing with every fiber of their being. After some time, daddy got up and went and grabbed Penelope’s Bible off of the side table. As he did, an envelope fell out marked “Mommy and Daddy”. He opened it up and began to read the letter out loud choking between the words. It was full of love spoken from Penelope’s heart and at the bottom was a picture that had a big person with long arms as though holding the other three figures. Below each figure it said Daddy, Mommy, and Penelope. On each arm holding them was the word “Jesus”.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Lea Austin
07/24/16
A very touching story and a creative use of the topic word. Nice work.
Toni Babcock 
07/25/16
Love your poignant story of child-like faith! One suggestion would be in writing any story, avoid the use of clichés such as "shivers down their spines" or "every fiber of their beings" - e.g. try to employ some other creative way to express what you want to get across. This is a wonderful short story, hope you do well in the Challenge...
Larry Whittington
07/25/16
A series of emotional stories like this could be collected and made into a series of teaching topics. Each story could be a different topic.

Nicely written.
Joe Moreland
08/10/16
Wow! I really like this story, Rhonda. You do so much to make me really visualize Penelope, her parents and the situation. Not only her childlike faith, but also her drive to heal her parents' relationship, were very emotional illustrations that came across very powerfully.

Excellent work here!