Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Empty Nester/Retirement (from work) (09/10/09)
-
TITLE: The Life Of Steve | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ken Ebright
09/15/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
They had been friends since they were five. They went to the same church and both went to law school. Later they would get their first job at the same law firm.
Where they differed was their love life. Charlie married his high school sweetheart Donna. Steve was Charlie's best man at his wedding. Charlie and his wife had one child, which was a baby girl named Shelly, born a year after they got married. Shelly has just left home to go to college.
Steve, on the other hand, was in his forties and depressed, because he wanted a wife and a child. Steve wanted to talk about it, so he met at a nearby restaurant.
"Charlie, I wish I could have found a wife." Steve sadly looked down as he stirred his coffee.
"You never know, you might still find a wife." Charlie had this optimistic tone in his voice.
"You're now an empty nester; I wish I had a wife and had memories of spending time with my kids like you. Hearing that Shelly left home and was off to college really makes me feel depressed."
Charlie just started to laugh and shook his head, as if he could not believe what he heard. "Steve, it is not like you have sat around all these years and have done nothing. You have been on several short term mission trips. You have also been a Sunday school teacher. Maybe the Lord wanted you to serve him as a single. You have nieces and nephews that you have had fun with down through the years. I have not had the time to do what you have done. I have had to spend time going to concerts, basketball games, and working so I could help Shelly to have money to go to college."
Steve still felt frustrated. "Charlie, I want a wife who could love me; I want to have kids that could love me. You just don't understand."
"Steve, you got to make the best with what you got. The Lord will someday reward you for your years of service. You need to think about the after life. I probably will never get as many crowns as you. Our life here on this earth will only last for a second. You should be focused on eternity.
"Maybe you're right," Realizing that Charlie was right, he breathed loudly.
"I know I am," said Charlie.
"Thanks, Charlie," said Steve.
***************************************************************************
When you're a single-never married and you have family member whose kids have left home and are empty nester's, it can be depressing. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and not focus on what we don't have but on what we do have.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
