The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: It's a Colorful World (12/03/09)
Kate stepped back to observe her work just as “O Holy Night” began to play on the stereo. The Christmas tree was joyfully flashing its coloured lights, its branches adorned with tinsel and baubles and a few handmade decorations she’d been given over the years. On the very top rested the gleeming golden star that had always topped the Christmas tree of her childhood. The nativity scene ornaments were set up along the mantel and she’d hung the cross stitch of the angels playing their golden instruments that her sister made for her just above. Over the archway to the dining room she’d stretched her garland of colourful stars she’d crocheted and had dressed the dining table beyond in Christmas colours with candles and a poinsettia perfectly placed in the middle.

Yet even while the music played, all the colours of Christmas failed to remove the silence of standing alone in her lavishly decorated living area. For as long as she could remember, her family had made it tradition to gather on Christmas Eve and begin the celebrating in anticipation of Christmas Day. This year circumstances saw it cancelled and Kate, who was playing host this time, was disappointed. She could see Grandma sitting by the Christmas tree singing along with the carols that played and scaring the little kids when her teeth would pop out at random. Her nieces and nephews would be eyeing off the Christmas presents under the tree impatiently waiting for night to turn to Christmas morning while her sister-in-law would tell them stories of growing up in a poor village in China where celebrating rarely involved presents. Uncle Charlie and Peter would be tucked happily away in a corner debating the pros and cons of the latest technology while she and her sister discussed with excitement the coming of her fourth child. Tyler would be gleefully teasing his younger cousins who were easily stirred and inevitably at some point during the evening Kate would catch her mum and dad away from the rest dancing softly and sweetly together. It was a whole evening of constant chatter mingled with laughter around drinks and nibbles. A night she always looked forward to.

Kate looked around again as she drifted back to reality. Regardless of how glamorous life could appear, it just wasn’t bright without the relationships she treasured.
“But they will be here in the morning,” Kate reminded herself with a soothing smile, “And tomorrow will be a very colourful day.”
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.
This article has been read 618 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
12/11/09
Oh, I'm glad you wrote it so that the family would be coming soon!

There's a lot of "telling" here, but not so much "showing." Help us to know her better by putting in sensory details and letting us eavesdrop in on her thoughts.

Nicely written--keep up the good work!
Marita Vandertogt
12/11/09
I agree - this is very nicely written. You create a feeling of family Christmas that the reader can experience.