Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “Don’t Try to Walk before You Can Crawl” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/17/08)
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TITLE: The Legacy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rita Garcia
01/24/08 -
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“Slow down, Sis. I’m leaving right now and I’ll pick you up.”
Judine paced the sidewalk as she prayed for her mom. Larry pulled into her driveway, and she jumped in before he even stopped the car.
“Careful, we’ll end up with you in the emergency.”
“Please tell me, is Mom okay?” She pushed the sleeves of her sweater up to her elbows.
“Pop called and said Mom fell. They were working in the garden and he went inside for a coffee refill. When he came back she was on the ground, just laying there. He…”
“Maybe, she had an attack or something?” She tucked her sable-colored hair behind her ears.
“Mom told him she fell. When…”
“So she was conscious?”
“Judine, I don’t know all the details. Pop said for us to meet them at Westview.”
“How bad was she hurt?”
“Pop thinks she may have a broken hip.”
Judine leaned back and closed her eyes. In a soft voice she began praying. “The Lord is my Shepherd…”
“That’s the twenty-third Psalms?”
“You remember how Mom made us memorize Bible verses?” She pulled some tissues from her bag.
“What was it she used to say?” He took the tissue she placed in his hand.
“It takes preparation to build resilience, for the inevitability of life’s hard times, and how it takes more than will-power to avoid the pit-falls of temptation.”
“Yeah, and she compared it to an army preparing for battle.” He wiped the dampness from his face.
“Remember the story she told? How the people in prison camps were not allowed Bibles. So each one recited scriptures they had memorized and hidden in their hearts.”
“And it gave them faith and strength during those dark times.” He visibly relaxed his grip on the wheel.
“And while she trusted we’d never experience anything of that magnitude, she believed prayer and scriptures to be the best way to handle life.”
“Sis, do you teach these things to Abbey?”
“Mom told us she learned from Grandma. As a Christian, as a mother and as a daughter, I think I have an obligation to continue the legacy which was passed down to me. How about you? Of course it’ll be a while. By the way, how’s Mona?”
“Did Mom tell you? At Mona’s last appointment the doctor told us it’ll be anytime now.”
“That little guy’s in a hurry. She isn’t due for a couple more weeks. So, are you going to teach him the things we were taught?
He reached across and ruffled her hair. “Yeah, I think I probably will. Dad always left it up to Mom, but I want to be more involved. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pop … he’s a terrific dad.”
“I wonder how Mom’s doing.”
“We’re about to find out, here we are.” He made a left turn into the parking lot.
They found their father waiting inside the emergency room doors. Judine couldn’t help but noticed the weariness on his face.
“Mom’s in surgery … we can go to the waiting room.”
“How bad is it?” Judine linked arms with her dad.
“She broke her hip, but we’ll know more after surgery.”
They sat in the waiting room drinking coffee. Judine look over at her father and wondered when he had aged so.
“Pop, we were talking about how Mom insisted we memorize scriptures.” She tucked her leg up under her.
“In life we experience the mountain-tops, and go through the valleys, but it’s the arid desert times that can sap the faith right out of our soul. Those are the times you need to be prepared for battle, and brandish your shield of faith.” He ran his hand across his thin strands of grey hair.
“That’s what Mom told us,” Larry said.
“Where’d you think I learned it?”
Dr. Freemont came into the room. “Hello Norm, Gayle’s surgery went well. Her hip, probably, gave out on her and caused her fall. We had to do a replacement.”
Their dad stood and grasped the doctor’s hand. “Will it be a long recovery?”
“A few weeks with physical therapy and she’ll be moving easier than before.”
“Can I see her?”
“I’ll have the nurses let you know when she’s settled.”
The following day, Judine sat in the corner of her mom’s room. As, her mom awoke and turned her head, her heart overflowed with love, as she listened to her daughter reciting scripture verses and praying.
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