Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HEALTH (10/13/16)
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TITLE: The Knitted Shawl | Previous Challenge Entry
By LeslieJean Anderson
10/19/16 -
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So I ran to a nearby bridge with the vague idea that I would flag down a car and hitchhike. But the car I tried to flag down hit me, and I flew over the railing of the bridge to the rocks below.
Suddenly I was alone in a plain white room like a doctor’s office. I was sitting in a rocking chair with a white knitted shawl draped around my shoulders. A door opened, and a man came in. He seemed out of place because he was wearing a sparkling white robe instead of medical scrubs.
He smiled as soon as he saw me and stepped forward to grasp my hands in his.
“Sharon,” he said. “What are you doing here so early?”
His voice cascaded through my body to my heart.
“Do I know you?” I asked.
“Of course,” he smiled as he sat down beside me. “We had a long talk before you left to go to your mother.”
I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but no words came out. A flood of memories pierced my skull and I stared at him wide-eyed.
“Ah-ha,” he said. “You remember me now. Would you like to tell me what happened?”
“I… I…I made a mistake… a terrible mistake when I was angry...”
His eyes glistened with sad compassion. “Oh, Sharon. You chose anger instead of Me. You promised you would always choose Me. Remember?”
Regret like a river rushed through me, and water flooded my eyes. I covered my face. “I didn’t know! Nobody taught me and... and... I forgot! I am so sorry... Help me... Pease help me...”
He stood then, and pulled me up until I was standing weak-kneed in front of him. His eyes captured mine, and He smiled again.
“Lean on Me, Sharon, and walk with Me every day. Go back and try again. Choose Me always and you will lead many others to eternal health and happiness.”
Then he kissed me on the forehead. Before I could react, the knitted shawl suddenly became wings, and I was whooshed away from His Presence.
When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room. My mother was by my bed, crying. My father was in the hallway yelling at a nurse. Pain floated around me like a mist, then attacked my spine.
“My back,” I croaked. “What’s wrong with my back?”
My mother began crying harder. Then my father walked in, still yelling.
“I’ll sue this crummy hospital if they don’t...”
My mother was pointing at me, as she dabbed at her eyes.
“What – is she awake? Sharon – are you awake?”
I looked at him, suddenly sorry for his distress. “Choose Jesus, Dad,” I muttered.
“Oh, my God – she’s brain damaged!” my father yelled.
“My back...” I whispered as I lost consciousness again.
My recovery was long and difficult. My back was broken, and the doctors said I might never walk again. My father wanted to sue somebody but I would not cooperate. Finally, he dropped it when a psychiatrist certified that I was not brain damaged.
While I was in rehab, my passion became choosing Jesus every hour. Every single hour! Because I remembered His presence and His eyes. And the kiss on my forehead. And His words to me. I woke up thinking about Him every morning and all through the day.
I really didn't care if I would walk again. The back pain was only in my body. It had been emotional agony tearing me up inside that made me run away. And that was gone now. All gone. Instead, I felt gratitude. Compassion. Hope. And forgiveness.
Finally, I was discharged. My Dad pushed my wheelchair into the house. My mother was waiting with a present.
“I made this to welcome you home again, Sweetheart.”
I opened it and gasped. It was the white knitted shawl in my vision. Gently, she put it around my shoulders and hugged me. I was overcome with emotion.
“Mom, it's beautiful,” I said when I could talk. “I'll cherish it forever. I love you. I love you both. Everything will be ok.”
747 words This is a work of fiction.
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Well done:)