The Greatest Gift | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Greatest Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Michelle Sabrosky
04/26/05
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She sat on an old crate watching a train go by, next to her was a shopping cart full of her most precious belongings. There was the quilt that she made with her mother and grandmother so long ago, the teddy bear she had since she was a baby, a shoebox full of photos and the necklace her father bought her for her sixteenth birthday. She also had an old military issued New Testament Bible with Psalms issued to her Grandfather during the Korean War. On the very last page under a paragraph headed “Receiving Christ as Saviour” followed by the sinners prayer, was a date, and her Grandfather’s signature. She never understood why he would sign and date something like that, but her Grandfather died shortly after giving her the Bible, so she kept it around.

It began to snow; she wrapped herself up in her quilt and clenched her teddy bear. “Oh, God” she cried out, “If You are real, help me! What has happened to my life? What have I done? If there is a God why would He let my life be this way?”

This train must have been the longest train she had ever seen, it seemed like it would go on forever. She thought about the day it happened, the day her life virtually ended. She was high, like she had been almost every day for about six months, her mother was crying hysterically. “If you want to throw your life away, fine…I quit! I am done worrying about you incessantly, but you will not ruin the life of my grandchild.”

“Oh yeah, well maybe there isn’t one anymore, did you ever think of that!” She shouted in a very vindictive voice.

“What are you saying Sarah?”, Her mother’s face now burning with anger, “What did you do? Did you have an abor…Sarah Marie Waters, if you had an abortion you are no longer welcome in this house! Don’t even say another word, just pack your things and get out, as far as I’m concerned you are no longer my daughter!”

Sarah stared at the train and thought about ending her life, she had no where to go, and according to the big sign at the mall, there was only two shopping days until Christmas. “My life is over, it’s almost Christmas, I have no family, all my friends are gone, why am I still here?” She said, thinking she was talking to herself.

A voice within Sarah’s very own heart spoke out. “You are still here, because I willed you to be.”

“Wha, where, huh?” Sarah looked around confused. “God?”

“Sarah, when is the last time you looked at that old Bible your grandfather gave you? Go get it and read Psalm 22.” Sarah did as she was told, still not fully understanding what was going on. Now read John chapters 17-21, you can read these same events in the other Gospel’s, but Sarah what happened in those Scriptures is so important to you. He died for you Sarah, and through belief and faith in Christ Jesus, your sins can be forgiven and you can begin a new life. Sarah, go home.”

“I can’t, she told I am no longer her daughter.” Sarah was so ashamed and began to again cry.

“Sarah, go home.”

Sarah took her cart and began to walk home; as she walked an old friend saw her and picked her up. Sarah’s friend asked her if she new Jesus, “Funny you ask, I believe we just met.” Sarah told her story to friend, they cried together, and her friend led her in the sinner’s prayer. In that moment, Sarah understood the significance of her grandfather’s signature and the date in that ratty old Bible.

Sarah got of the car, “Thank you.” She closed the door, and took a deep breath, walked up the driveway, and just then the front door opened.

“Sarah, oh God thank You, Sarah…” Her mother sobbed, she ran to Sarah and embraced her. “Oh, honey, your home, you are really home. I have prayed for you to come back, and here you are, God listens Sarah, He listens!”

“Mama, I am so sorry, please forgive me. Mama I’m different now, I promise. Jesus is more than a cute Christmas story, Mama, He’s real, and He saved me,” Sarah looked up at her mother, tears were streaming down her face, “He saved me.”

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