Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Patience (08/21/08)
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TITLE: Brother can you spare | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tom Robinson
08/27/08 -
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I had a quarrel with Tess. It was about time that she learned some respect.
She borrowed my Stinking Slinky cd. Only the coolest band that ever shouted, sang, or spit out a tune. The latest - Don't Smell My Sneakers was climbing up the charts.
"Look Sis, you better give me back that disc or I'll punch your lights out!"
"Jif, you said I could borrow it so won't you please just be patient with me?" Tess's request irked me to my breaking point. "Please...!" She asked too much of me... always.
I only owned the cd for a week and she had it for the last two days. I kinda got in trouble when I purchased it. My dad gave me the money to buy some school clothes. He was very upset with my choice, but didn't punish me because I begged him for mercy.
I decided to take what was mine and pushed her hard to the ground. The cd conveniently rolled out of her backpack and I snagged it and ran away laughing. Only to run into my neighbor Bob, the only wise man that I know.
"What's going on young buck? Why are you rutting your sister around?" Bob grabbed my collar and stood me to attention. He was a Sunday School teacher, so I knew I had to come up with some smooth answers. I pulled a proverb out of my hat.
"I am going to patiently break my sister's bones." I said with confidence.
"Is that from the Bible?" Bob was surprised. I knew I had a winner. "You are barking up the wrong tree Jiffrey! Proverbs 25:15 means that a soft word will do greater things than harsh actions."
I told him about the situation. From my dad allowing me to keep the cd, to my sister's ridiculous abuse of my generosity. Wise Bob nodded knowingly. I threw out another show-stopper.
"I remember a verse that my patience should not allow Tess to self-control me. She needs to give me my fruit in the spirit of joy. I feel a good face-full-fist coming. There is no law against that!" I got that verse dead-on, or so I thought.
"I think you have been eating the fruit of the snake, not the fruit of the Spirit." Bob replied. "Jesus told a parable that is parallel to your little skirmish. It goes like this..."
"A man begged to be forgiven a big debt owed to the King. Then he turned around and refused to forgive a little debt that was owed him. The King was very angry and had him punished severely." Bob recited from Mt. 18:23-35. "I think that same kind of punishment will be heading your way if you can't forgive you sister."
The fear of the Lord and my father came upon me. Bob's advice often had that effect. "I see your point, Bob. I'll thank you not to tell my dad about that parable. Please?" I found myself begging for mercy again. "And I will give the cd back to Tess. She will love the last track - King Me."
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