Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HONOR (04/28/22)
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TITLE: From A Bother To A Blessing | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
05/03/22 -
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My hand shot up with the speed of a Saturn V rocket. "I can think of several times I would have sold my younger brother to the Egyptians for twenty pieces of silver," I said. The class erupted in laughter but our teacher just shook his head, sighed and dismissed the class. He motioned for me to stay.
"Very funny!" he said when we were alone. "I know your little brother is a handful but you need to honor and respect him more. I think you're going to be very surprised at how well Johnny turns out. I predict he will be honored throughout his life in ways you never thought possible."
He walked me to the door and into the sanctuary where the morning worship service was beginning.
He was right. My brother did indeed turn out well and received honors that made him the undisputed pride of our large family.
Johnny was seven years younger than I and it seemed his calling in life was to torment me. One day after I had mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors, eight-year-old Johnny put on his boots, went outside to find a mud puddle he could walk through, then returned to stomp mud all over my freshly washed floors. I returned the favor by locking him in the hall closet, keeping quiet so he would think I had left. He screamed and pounded on the door until I released him.
But when I left home to attend college 200 miles away, I missed him. Mother clipped articles from the newspaper describing honors he had received and mailed them to me.
She told me of the day John, as a high school senior, received a letter from a university he wanted to attend. "We are pleased to honor you with a full, four-year scholarship to our University. This award is based not only on your fine academic achievements but on the large number of your high school faculty who petitioned this award on your behalf."
After graduating from the university, John was invited to join the staff at the prestigious Standard and Poor Corporation in Manhattan. He swiftly climbed the corporate ladder, making friends on every step until he reached the position of vice-president.
Married, with four children, he lived for years in New Jersey where a chauffeur picked him up every morning for the commute to his well-appointed office, high in a windowed skyscraper in Manhattan.
Overseeing hundreds of other workers, his name appeared often in major newspapers as he made decisions that affected thousands of people across the globe. A high S&P rating was the goal of every corporation and city in the world.
One afternoon, the president of Standard & Poor called John into his office. "John, it is my honor to inform you that you are becoming groomed for the presidency of S&P when I retire in the next year or so. I need to resign at some point to spend more time with my family while I'm still healthy and strong."
It was an honor that John could only dream of but, sadly, it was short-lived. A short time later. he listened intently as his doctor revealed that John was suffering from Supra-nuclear palsy of the brain, an advanced form of Parkinson's Disease. This diagnosis would explain his sudden onset of speech slurring and a marked change in his gait.
For a while, John kept working, but as his condition worsened, he resigned. Before leaving, he strongly petitioned the president to consider his best friend, Louis, as the next president of S&P. John had brought Louis into the company years before and he had proven his worth. Louis became president a few years later.
The company honored John and his family with a massive appreciation dinner, paying tribute to John for his innovative work in rating cities across the globe. Tears poured freely as John, unable to speak a word, typed "THANK YOU" with one shaking finger on the speech-generating device attached to his wheelchair.
John was a born-again Christian, named for John, the beloved disciple. At 56 years of age, he was ushered into heaven as a child of God.
I was honored to call him my brother.
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Non-fiction.
"Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." (I Peter 3:15 Biblehub)
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And on being able to write this beautiful story from the heart.
Great job and message.
God Bless~
Blessings~