Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Husband and Wife (08/08/14)
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TITLE: Spread the Corner of your Garment Over Me | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kelly Wilbanks
08/14/14 -
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With the reluctance of a fugitive facing a firing squad, I stepped into the room I swore I’d never enter. Though I couldn’t see him yet I knew he was in the courtroom, the way a rabbit knows a fox is present. Blood rushed to my pounding heart leaving my hands ice cold. I turned to walk down the center aisle, past the pews that held my friends —my former bridesmaids poetically enough. He had his back to me, so unlike our wedding day when his blue eyes and smile lit a path for me straight to his arms.
I gulped, took a shaky breath and sat in the seat left vacant for me, the defendant. A small stack of papers sat before me. I flipped up a corner to see that they were the legal documents he had filed in August only ten short days after I’d discovered our marriage was in jeopardy. How quickly we ended up here, August bleeding into January; sitting across a three foot aisle, estranged as though the vows that led us to this place had never taken place.
I looked back at my friends, the three who had taken me in when my world fell apart. They sat watchful. Perhaps they still held hope, like me, that he would have a change of heart. I still felt stunned though I’d had months to prepare for this day. Months to try and sort out what had happened; to work it out in my own heart.
I’d known something wasn’t right, but I had thought Matthew’s love was immutable. Married when I was twenty-one years old, I thought our marriage was fact, unchangeable. I put my faith in a man, a man who was twenty-two and barely knew himself. A man who promised to love me, but couldn’t even love himself. He sat there, shoulders stiff, refusing to acknowledge his bride, stone-hearted and silent about to commit an act he would never be able to undo.
Despite the circumstances, I began to breathe more steadily, the sweat in my armpits lessened and I no longer felt my heart threatening to escape its confines. I rubbed my still frigid fingers together to warm them, inadvertently nudging the simple gold promise ring I wore to replace my wedding ring. A symbol of hope to replace one of infidelity. This hope nudged its way through me, His promises surrounding me like a hug; reminding me that the war had already been won.
Picking up the thick envelope from the kitchen table, I turned to the soft brown eyes belonging to my maid of honor and swore I’d never sign them. I vowed I’d never give up on our marriage. I’d spent the next few months investigating and exposing his relationship with another woman hoping that he’d come to his senses. I’d reminded him of the God-given strengths he was laying aside: his way with scripture, his four years at Bible college, his friendships. I’d waged war for my husband’s soul, and learned it wasn’t mine to save, that letting go wasn’t the same as giving up. I was open to Matthew’s change in heart, but I was free to let go. The night before had been a battle of surrender.
I’d made a new covenant that night. Down in the basement of a friend’s house, my futon sandwiched between the furnace and the washer and dryer, I bared my soul to the Lord. “My heart is officially broken,” I cried out. “I function. I live. I press forward, but…” I whispered, “he didn’t love me Daddy. That truth crushes me. It collapses my soul. Is your heart breaking like mine?” I wept. “Please spread the corner of your garment over me and be my kinsman redeemer. Please make a covenant with me. I bring nothing to a union with you, but please love me anyway.”
I spoke boldly, “Lord, I hold no portion back. Father, please go before me. Give me faith, hope and love tomorrow. Break my heart for Matthew the way your heart breaks for him. My marriage is with you, Abba.”
I held these new vows in my heart. Over my tense muscles and clenched fingers, they cloaked my being like armor. My maker’s promise nestled deep within me and I knew as one marriage ended, another began. I picked up the black pen and signed my name.
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Sometimes the only way to show we truly love someone is by letting them go...this is what Christ does with each one of us.
Thanks for sharing!
The one problem I had was with your transitions. You took me from the courtroom (which I could picture vividly) to a kitchen table. Something simple like I gripped the table and watched my knuckles turn white as I remembered another white-knuckle day many months ago. I also wasn't sure when God was speaking to you. I figured it was God because of the words. Remember to start a new paragraph when someone else speaks (putting double spaces between the lines makes it easier to read too).
Overall, you did a brilliant job by introducing the conflict right off the bat. Your way with words is truly an art form. This line gave me goosebumps: Blood rushed to my pounding heart leaving my hands ice cold. It created a vivid picture and set the perfect atmosphere for this spot on topic story. Many talk about Jesus being the bridegroom, and while you touched on it, you did it in an out of the box way. You delighted me from beginning to end.
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Excellent job.
God bless~
I agree with the above suggestions to make this easier reading and a little more clear.
You will go far in these challenges, and, if taken to heart some of the critiques, you while soon move up the ladder.
Great job.
God bless.
God bless~