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: Ow! (01/07/10)
Me-OW!

Unlocking the door, Nathan was greeted by his colossal cat, Oscar, who encircled his legs in a rotating figure-eight pattern. Nathan tossed his keys on the kitchen counter with more force than he anticipated, sending them crashing into his coffee pot. The cat jumped at the sound, but Nathan didn’t notice, and walked into the living room, with Oscar following closely on his heels. Plopping down on the sofa, he turned on the TV, oblivious to what was on the screen. The cat belted out one of his throaty meows, which sounded more like Ow, than Meow, before he sprang on the couch next to Nathan, and rested his chin on Nathan’s knee.

Nathan’s dark blue eyes filled with tears as Kristina’s words echoed in his mind…I’m an abused, beaten-down, cowardly murder! You are a good man, and I am sorry that I deceived you. I should have been honest with you from the beginning. The truth is, Nathan, I don’t deserve your love. And you don’t deserve or need someone like me. The finality of her words were crystal clear…but he’d hoped…he’d thought.

With a frustrated sigh, Nathan ran his hand down his face to wipe his tears. Her coldness toward him today clarified that, even though she had let Christ into her life, she still had no desire for Nathan to be in it.

“If she feels more comfortable behind that icy wall she’s built around her heart, then let her stay there,” he said to the cat, who answered with a soft Ow in the back of his throat.

Nathan’s own words tore through his heart, even as he said them. After a few moments, he clicked the TV off again. With his elbows on his knees, he rested his head in his hands.

“God,” he prayed, “I don’t know what to do. I'm thrilled to see that she's let You into her life. But the truth is,” he said, his voice catching as he spoke. “Even though I let her go into Your hands, I thought she’d come back to me after You healed her. I am angry... I don’t know if I am angry at myself for thinking she would return, or…” he let his words trail off, unwilling to voice his thoughts, even to his Lord. “I need Your help. Help me sort out these emotions. Help me get to the place where I can just rejoice with her, where I am okay with the fact that when I let her go, it wasn’t Your will for her to come back.”

Nathan stayed in his prayerful position for some time, seeking shelter in the loving arms of his God. Oscar nudged his owner’s hands, offering his own comfort. The cat let out one long, low, Ow, echoing the emotions tumbling through his owner’s heart, then returned to perching his chin on Nathan’s thigh.
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 605 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Colin Swann
01/15/10
Thanks for your story about a lost love and the cat. Trusting God in it all is always a purr-fect ending Ow! I agree, a cat does mouth Ow! Colin
Rachel Dorsey
01/17/10

This short story was excellent with weaving in the "ow" aspect from a cat and a story about unrequited love and God's strength for the man.

Very enjoyable reading. Nothing that jarred or seemed out of place, at least, to me.
Jan Ackerson
01/18/10
Well done--I love cat stories, and you wove Oscar into this story expertly.

I've started a class in the FaithWriters forums for Beginner and Intermediate writers. I'd love to see you there--look for "Jan's Writing Basics".

I love the way it ended--not a neat and tidy wrap-up, but a thoughtful open ending.