Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Actions Speak Louder than Words" (without using the actual phrase). (02/21/08)
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TITLE: Be Still and Know | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Shell
02/26/08 -
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“I’ll tell him,” Allison said as she unlocked her car. “Thanks Bill,” she added, waving good-bye.
“Is Daddy coming to church with us next week?” asked Camilia as she climbed into her car seat.
“We can always hope,” she replied weakly.
Since Allison and Camilia had begun attending this little church only a few weeks ago, the members had become like family. But like most families, there were secrets she wasn’t ready to reveal. Many knew Jessee when he was younger and some older ones knew his parents. Now, at 30 years old, Jessee was hard. Disappointments and hypocrisy had left him bitter. Allison knew he loved her and Camilia, but his heart was hardened to everyone else, including God.
Camilia had begun asking questions when a friend from school had invited her to Sunday School. Jessee didn’t want her to become one of those fanatics and had at first said no. But with Allison’s reassurance, they both began attending. Allison had been surprised and amazed at the love that radiated from, not only the pulpit, but each of the pews.
As they stepped through the back door of their home, Allison took a deep breath and hoped Jessee didn’t try again to mock her or belittle the kindness they had felt at the little church. But he was on the phone. Camilia reached into a kitchen drawer and pulled out the tape. She placed her nursery class artwork on the refrigerator door and ran outside to play. As Allison glanced at the picture, she remembered the theme of the lesson this morning, “Be still and know that I am God,” (Psalms 46:10 KJV).
Jessee didn’t seem to notice the picture as he hung up the phone.
“That was Mom,” he said in a voice she couldn’t quite discern. “I told her we would be there for dinner next Sunday,” then added “at 12:00,” in a you-know-what-that-means tone.
His parents lived 30 minutes away on the other side of town. Allison repeated the verse in her mind. With God in her life now, she was learning to allow Him to handle moments like this. Even though no one else understood her situation, God did. And her faith was growing.
“How are they? Is anything wrong?” she managed to ask in a sweet, sincere voice.
Jessee explained that his mom was worried about his dad. He had been tired and out of breath a lot lately.
Allison desperately wanted to tell him she would be praying for him, but changed her mind to prevent the fight she knew would result.
The phone rang around 11:00 that night, sending Camilia to her mom’s bedside. Jessee hung up the phone and began getting dressed.
“Mom’s called the ambulance. She thinks dad is having a heart attack. I’ll be at the hospital,” Jessee informed them, trying not to let them see the tears welling up in his eyes.
Allison quietly took Camilia’s hand and led her back to her room. When they reached the bed, Allison knelt down and began praying for her father-in-law. Before she was finished, Camilia had dropped to her knees, imitating her mother, and prayed “Dear God, please take care of my papaw. I love him and he needs you. Please watch over my daddy and let him come to church with me and mommy. Amen.”
Jessee quietly stepped away from the doorway before either could see him standing there. When he returned at 7:00 the next morning, Allison immediately asked about his dad. He just smiled, a rare sight lately, and said everything was fine. His dad didn’t have a heart attack and would be going home today .
“That’s great,” she said, then, carefully choosing her words, added, “Maybe we could visit before Sunday.” Realizing how he may take that, she quickly threw in “But we’ll go for dinner Sunday, too.”
Camilia bounded into the kitchen for breakfast with that smile that could melt even the hardest heart. “Good morning Daddy,” she said brightly, climbing into her seat.
This morning, Jessee smiled back and asked “How would you like to go to Mamaw and Papaw’s house for dinner Sunday, after church?”
“Are you going to church with us?” Camilia asked with a reserved anticipation in her voice.
“I think I will,” he responded, still smiling.
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