Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/10/08)
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TITLE: An Attitude of Gratitude | Previous Challenge Entry
By LaNaye Perkins
01/14/08 -
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The holes in the linoleum on her kitchen floor were as big as platters . The outdated pattern barely showed in the high traffic areas. Adding to her frustration was the fact that the edges of the holes were so brittle they would break off every time they got stepped on. This caused the holes to grow larger by the week. Soon she wouldn’t have any rugs big enough to hide them.
Her gaze turned to the hideous carpet in the front room. It was called “Jungle Passion” and had a maroon background with large orange and purple flowers. Once she had considered shampooing the carpet, but her husband convinced her not to. He feared that shampooing would only cause the pattern to stand out more. They both laughingly agreed it was best to just keep it vacuumed and disinfected with Lysol.
As her gaze roamed through the house, Linda prayed with an abundance of self pity. She told God how she wished He’d bless her with new flooring. After all, she deserved to live in a house with pretty floors, didn’t she?
Finally, her prayers ended and she slumped into the recliner to feel sorry for herself.
After several quiet moments, Linda heard a whisper in her spirit. Why would I bless you with new floors, when you can’t even appreciate the ones you have?
Looking around she saw her home with brand new eyes. She saw all the dust bunnies in the corners and the cobwebs hanging in various spots on the ceilings. The front room was bad, but the kitchen was much worse. Shame reddened her cheeks as she thought of how she’d refused to mop its floor for several months. It was filthy, like the rest of the house and all because she had been throwing a temper tantrum for several months over the floors.
Oh Lord, please forgive me. You are right. I should be praising you for all you have given me. Lord, I’m going to start right now. I thank you for this house that we live in. I also want to thank you for the furniture you have supplied, the clothes that my family and I have to wear, and the food we have to eat. I thank you for it all.
Most of all, I want to thank you for my flooring. All of it, even the “Jungle Passion“ carpeting. I know the color isn’t what I like, but I want to thank you for giving us such a well made and thick carpet. It’s been in this old house for over ten years now, and you can’t even see any wear on it. Thank you for providing it, I know it has helped to insulate the floors and keep us warmer this winter. And Lord, thank you for the linoleum in the kitchen. I‘m thankful Lord that most of the floor is covered and keeps the cold air from coming up through the kitchen floor. It only takes two throw rugs to block those holes and it could be a lot worse.
Lord, I promise, from now on I will have an attitude of gratitude. I promise. In Jesus name, Amen.
The whole time she prayed, Linda was gathering supplies to clean the house. The first item on her list was to scrub the kitchen floor and put a good wax on it.
When her husband came home that night, he smelled a bouquet of various cleansers and polish from the front porch. When he opened the door, he was blessed by the sight of a sparkling clean house. Linda kept her house clean from that day on and she kept her attitude of gratitude.
There is one more thing to tell in this story. Three months after her fateful day, God blessed Linda with new carpeting and linoleum for her home. Isn’t that just like God?
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RED PEN: In the on instance where she's wishing that she could have the carpet, you already use italics for the prayer later on, maybe you could've put her actual thoughts in italics and added it on, just a thought! ^_^ This is really nice!
Red ink: She was sitting in her recliner already, but then you slumped her into it again.