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: Willingness (02/21/05)
Bob was tired. Bone tired. To say it had been a long day would be an understatement; he had worked from sun up til sun down. Bob had no complaints though. He liked ranching and the independence the life offered. No time clock, no nine to five. Today it had been just him, his horse and the old cattle dog Rex. The sun had been warm, the sky blue and the breeze gentle. It was a good day to be alive. But now Rex was sitting beside him in the pickup and it was time for home. He started up the truck and put it in gear.

That is when the thought hit him. He couldn't remember if he'd shut the last cattle gait or not. His head slumped over until it rested on top of the steering wheel and he muttered a soft "Dang." He considered his options. He could either drive the half hour over a poor excuse for a road and check the gait or he could take his chances and head on home, hoping he had closed the gait. His head told him the right thing to do would be to check the gait, but his exhausted body wasn't willing. It pled with him to just go on home.

He decided on the latter. He started down the drive which would take him to the main road when he began thinking about his boss, old man Jacobs. He was fond of Bob and had told him how he figured God had put him in charge of this land and until He saw fit to change that, the old man was going to take good care of the land. Another thing Jacobs had told him then flashed into his mind. He hadn't been working at the ranch long when the old man had told Bob he was looking forward to having a trusting relationship with him. The old man then went on to explain for that to happen, he’d start trusting Bob with little things then maybe with bigger things later. This thought now sat on Bob's lap like a lead weight. He couldn't disappoint the old man. His body protested, but in vein. Bob turned the truck around and started the long drive to check the gait.

As he drove, his thoughts drifted back to old man Jacobs. He was a good man to be sure and a religious one. Bob believed in God but in a vague way. Hard to be among His creation and not believe there was a God. But he didn't put much stock in going to church or reading the Bible. Jacobs had invited him to church a time or two but Bob had declined. Other than that, the old man was not pushy about his beliefs which suited Bob just fine.

Bob heard Rex utter a low " Woof". It was then the pickup's headlights illuminated the overturned truck ahead. He recognized it as the old man's. "Oh God" escaped his lips. His eyes searched for Jacobs and saw him sitting on the ground beside the truck.

Bob came to a screeching halt and ran over. As he knelt down beside Jacobs, the old man looked up and smiled. "About time you were getting here. I was starting to get cold."

"What happened? You hurt?" Bob asked, then added "How'd you know I'd be along?"

"I feel like I've been rode hard and put up wet, but otherwise I'm no worse for wear. Can't say the same about my truck. Dang tire blew and the next thing I know I'm looking up at the stars. Knew you'd be along when I drove by the gait and saw it open.”

Bob helped the old man up and into his truck. On the drive back it crossed his mind the night was turning cold and the old man wasn't dressed for it. If he hadn't come back, the old man may not have survived the night. It sent a shudder through him. Jacobs was becoming like family to him. He was a good man. Maybe there was something to this faith business. He looked over to the old man and said "Old man, the next time you go to church, think I'll tag along."

"That'd be fine son." When the accident first happened, Jacobs had cussed. Now he saw it as a blessing. A smile of answered prayer crossed his lips.
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 818 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Amy Davis
03/01/05
I loved this! Excellent story and wonderfully written!
Amy Davis
03/01/05
One more thing...The title is what caused me to choose this one to read. I liked it. Also, gait is misspelled, and it jumped out at me every time.
donna robinson
03/02/05
This is just too good to be in the beginner level! Excellent narrative and the ideas were there, always subtle but always there. You should submit this somewhere. The ending line fit really well which is not always easy to do without sounding syrupy! Here, it just worked.
Karen Deikun
03/04/05
Good title, and goood read from start to finish. Excellent point about being faithful and heart warming story about how the owner's strust sat on this tired cowboys lap.

Good job.
Delores McCarter
03/04/05
Ok, I really loved this story. There is only one teeny tiny thing. The word "gait" should be spelled "gate". I wouldn't bring it up, but the word was used so often, I had to point it out. Other than that, I'd rate it 10 out of 10! Great job.