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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
“Would you like to order?” the waitress asked.
“No, I’ll wait a little longer, thank you.” Susan smiled.

Inside she was seething. She had been waiting for an hour for her sister Beth to show up.
She recalled the look of anguish as her mom had told her it was cancer and untreatable.

“No matter what happens,” she said, “take care of Beth. Find her.”

Susan had not spoken to Beth in years. She didn‘t know where she was at. Months ago someone had seen her getting food at a local church. Susan called the church and they said they would leave Beth a message to meet her. She was probably living out on the streets, doing drugs and God only knew what else. Their dad had died a few years ago. During the funeral Beth was obviously high. Susan recalled the day as if it were yesterday.

She had taken Beth to the side. “How dare you come here like this! Everyone would be better off if you weren‘t here!” Susan was squeezing Beth’s arm so hard and shaking her she thought she could snap it off.

Beth yanked her arm back, “Leave me alone!” and staggered off toward the road.

Susan stood in anger watching her sister leave. “Let her go get a piece of the world,” she thought. Her mom never knew what had happened. She just knew Beth had disappeared after the funeral.

Susan looked at her watch and decided she would leave. She had waited on Beth long enough. Obviously she wasn’t going to come or didn’t get the message to meet her. As she started to slide out of the booth she saw a woman approaching her. “Hello Susan, I’m so sorry that I’m late. There were some things that came up at the church.”

Susan froze. Who was this woman that spoke to her? She was dressed as if she had just came from church and her face was glowing. “It’s so good to see you.” Beth said.

“Beth?”, Susan moved back into the booth as Beth took a seat across from her. “You’ve changed.” That’s all she could manage to say. The transformation from the last time she had seen her was remarkable.

“There are a lot of things that have changed.” Beth smiled.

She radiated joy. A joy that Susan was a stranger to. Suddenly Susan who always felt like the dominate, older sister felt like the younger child.

“When the mission leader at the church told me that you had called I was so happy. I really didn’t think you wanted to see me again. I’ve really missed you and mom. I have been trying to gather the courage to go and see you both. I am truly sorry for the life that I lived. The mission leader you spoke to is actually the person who led me to Christ. I’ve been clean for six months and now I’m working there. I’m a completely different person now Susan. How are you? How is mom?”

Susan felt the tears start to swell up in her eyes. When Beth looked at her it was a look of love. She had prepared herself to deal with a hard person. Now she realized that she was the hard hearted one. Suddenly the walls started breaking down. She hadn’t cried in years and there was no stopping the tears as she held her face in her hands.

Beth took Susan‘s hands. “It’s ok. The past is in the past. I forgive you for the words you said to me. Please forgive me for being that way, especially at daddy’s funeral.”

Susan sobbed. “Beth, I’m sorry for telling you that we would be better off without you. Mom has been so hurt and now she is dying Beth! She has cancer and she’s dying. There’s nothing that can be done. You must come see her.”

Beth never let go of Susan’s hands and tears began to swell up in her eyes as well. For the first time in years they hugged. They quickly left and rode together to their mom’s home where she was under hospice care. Her mom was overjoyed to see Beth. “My prodigal daughter. I’m so glad to see you.” their mom said in a weak voice.

“Soon you will just have each other and I will be gone,” their mom sighed. “Remember life is short. Love and live everyday like it is your last.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Sara Harricharan
05/08/08
Love indeed ties familys together and sometimes I am especially sure that it tightly ties all sisters together! You did well with this, my only note is the ending seemed a tad bit rushed, I wanted to see more of the 'meeting' between the two sisters. I liked that Beth changed and turned her life completely around. ^_^ Great job!
Marita Vandertogt
05/09/08
This is really well written, and flowed nicely. Great job!
Beckie Stewart
05/14/08
Love the story of true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. This was well-written.
Ruth Howard
05/15/08
Thank you for this story - it was well-written. It goes to show that God can do wonders in transforming lives and restoring relationships.
Keep up the good writing!