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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Confident (07/05/07)
Leora snapped her final green bean, tossed it into a large ceramic bowl and heaved a sigh of relief. The summer heat caused her to wither like a thirty rose bush.

“Grammy, are we going to eat some green beans for supper?” Justin squealed.

“Yes, we are my little buckaroo. Grammy will add a little bacon grease, simmer them in a pot for a few hours, and they will be absolutely delicious.” Leora said as she lifted Justin on her lap. “And Granddaddy will love every single morsel.”

“Granddaddy loves everything you cook, Grammy. You know what he always says about you.” Justin cupped his pudgy hands around his mouth and chanted, “Grammy’s good at cooking and Grammy’s sure good looking!”

Leora squeezed Justin and planted a kiss on his chubby cheeks. “Oh, Justin, I love you so much.”

Sirens screamed in the distance.

Justin’s eyes bulged in terror. “I don’t like ambulances, Grammy, not since they took Mommy to the hospital.”

“I know, Justin, but we’ve got Mommy in a good place with the best doctors to get her the help she needs.”

“Grammy, when we couldn’t wake her up. It really scared me.” Justin sobbed as he buried his face in his grandmother’s chest. “When I saw the blood on the bathroom floor and the mirror and then her wrists….”

Swelling waves of sorrow swept over the duet. As Leora rocked Justin, the steady beat of the rocker seemed to keep time as she hummed her favorite hymns. The hours slipped by like melted butter off a plate.

“Lord, just like Paul and Silas. I’m singing in the dark. I trust You to do the impossible. I take confidence in Your Word. All things work together for good... (Romans 8:28 KJV) I believe for my Maggie. I believe that one day I will see her play her violin for You.”

Hope rose with the dawn in her soul.


** Ten years later **

“Justin, are you ready? We don’t want to be late.” Leora tossed her silk scarf around her shoulders and scurried to the door.

“Can you believe it, Grammy? Mom is going to give her testimony tonight. It’s surreal to me. After all we’ve been through.”

Leora grinned. “Oh, I can believe it.”

They scooted in the back pew just as the pastor opened the service in prayer. After a brief introduction, Justin’s mother stood to speak.

“Before I share my testimony tonight, I’d like to play “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” on my violin for you. He never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself.”

The fluid, willowy notes of Maggie’s violin floated through the sanctuary as Leora reminisced about the day that hope rose with the dawn in her soul. She whispered a prayer. “I have confidence in Your Word, Lord. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)


This is a true story about my mother. She required several hospitalizations for her severe depression. My grandmother (her mother) began to pray. She was confident that God was going to spare my mother’s life. During this time she felt the Lord assured her that she would see my mother play her violin for Jesus one day and she did.
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This article has been read 1835 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Janice Cartwright
07/12/07
This gave me great hope for a loved one!! Thank you so much!
Lynda Schultz 
07/12/07
A special story — the word limit meant you could write all the details that I would have loved to know — maybe a longer piece someday? I hope so. I could be wrong but I think you would be better to use the word "duo" rather than "duet." And this incomplete sentence threw me: “Grammy, when we couldn’t wake her up. It really scared me.” I think you wanted just one sentence here. Good work.
Dee Yoder
07/13/07
This is a beautiful testimony of God's power to heal, restore, and give life to a hurting soul. Thanks for sharing this story!
Sally Hanan
07/13/07
I really love the fact that you got to write this down. You used some lovely phrases like "butter sliding off a plate" and I agree with the other comment that this could be stretched out a lot more and possibly submitted to a magazine like Guideposts that prints true stories that give hope.
Jacquelyn Horne
07/13/07
A great story of hope and condidence.
Joanne Sher 
07/13/07
I'm sure this was such a blessing to write - it definitely was to read! I hope you do expand this. Wonderful.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
07/15/07
What a beautiful story, and to know it's true makes it just that much more blessed.
william price
07/15/07
Super job. A few little speed bumps early, but then it settled down to a wonderful reading experience. God bless.
Sara Harricharan
07/16/07
Wish this was longer! I would've liked to know more about this story. I loved Lenora's character and especially the interaction between her grandson. My only note was how old was he? He sounded pretty 'grown up' for his unmentioned age. ^_^ yet Grammy can still hold him in her lap and he still has chubby cheeks. Just a thought! Good job!
Jan Ackerson
07/17/07
Love your country metaphors, and the author's note at the end really clinched this for me. Thank you so much.
Sharlyn Guthrie
07/17/07
A wonderful testimony, and extra special since it's true. I enjoyed the easy, down-home feel of your writing.
Joy Faire Stewart
07/17/07
Oh! the power of prayer and to never give up. I love true stories... thanks for sharing yours. Excellent writing.
Patty Wysong
07/17/07
OH, this is wonderful!! I need to tuck this one away. I love the paragraph about singing in the dark. Thank you.
christine newman
07/17/07
This is a beautiful story! Enjoyed the setting and reality of it all.... Inspirational and endearing all in one. You are helping others by sharing your life experiences. Keep it up!
Kristen Hester
07/18/07
I got chills when I read that this was true and about your life. It was great. I loved the little boys relationship with his grammy. So vivid. Very nice. Praise God your mother came to the Lord!
Catrina Bradley
07/18/07
Thank you for blessing me with the hope in your mom's story. Great job!
dub W
07/18/07
I could tell this was written from the heart. Good job.
Loren T. Lowery
07/18/07
A great testimony with wonderful verses that we all can hold on to in times of our own trials. Praise God for God's working in your family's life and giving you the talent to share it with others.
Maxx .
07/18/07
There was good emotion in here. I liked that about it. Generally I don't like seeing the "10 years later" approach ... but here I can understand why you did it that way. Overall andsolid read. Well done!
Pat Guy
07/19/07
Oh my, this is awesome. Asking for the 'impossible' really touched me and what a solid hope you offer through this true and brave story.

Wow...

PS. I'm a praying Gramy too.