Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Memory (07/10/08)
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TITLE: HOME SWEET HOME | Previous Challenge Entry
By Norma-Anne Hough
07/14/08 -
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He loved the early morning meeting with his Lord. Today there was a deep heaviness in his heart.
……………………………
Kyle curled up in the thin blanket trying to warm his body. The bed in the men’s shelter was narrow with a lumpy mattress that smelt of stale urine.
Around him in the large room lay a dozen men, they came from all walks of life.
“What the heck am I doing here?” he questioned. Closing his eyes, he saw a bedroom in a large old farmhouse. The room looked vaguely familiar. The old four-poster bed looked positively inviting.
“Looks good” mocked a voice, “bet you wish you were there.”
Jumping up, he looked around to see who had spoken.
“Hearing voices now, things must be getting worse,” mocked the voice again.
Kyle looked around in desperation. He noticed an old man sitting up in one of the beds.
“Did you speak to me?” he asked.
“No my boy I didn’t, but perhaps it is time someone did.”
Kyle felt anger rising up against this individual who dared to tell him he needed advice.
“Who the heck are you to tell me what to do?” he shouted.
“Be quiet, I’m trying to sleep” moaned one of the men.
“Yes, put a sock in it mate,” shouted another.
Kyle jumped up and stormed out into the communal lounge. He made himself a cup of coffee and sat down to drink it.
He thought of his home for the first time in many months. He shut his eyes and thought of his home for the first time in many months.
He saw his mother preparing meals in the kitchen; he could almost smell the food.
…………………………….
Kate stood in the lounge watching David through the window. Her heart wept for him, as she knew how much he missed Kyle.
“Father, You know how much I miss him,” she whispered. “I long for him day and night. Is he still alive? Does he have a roof over his head? What is worse is that we cannot even mention his name. To David and the rest of the family, he is dead.”
She allowed the tears to flow for the first time in ages. Sara walked into the room and came up to her. Putting her arms around her mother, she held her tightly.
“Mum, I am sure Kyle is still alive. I know you love and miss him, and you can be sure dad does as well. They are both two very stubborn men.”
“Thank you Sara, I miss and yearn for him each day. We just need to believe that God will change both their hearts and minds.”
Sara hugged her mother and walked out silently, as she asked God to bring Kyle home.
…………………………………….
Kyle looked around the cheap lounge. He shut his eyes and saw his home again. He remembered how good things had been. He saw David walking the cattle in the veld. He saw Sara and Jason playing together with him. With shame, he remembered how he had demanded his inheritance to move away from the farm. He saw their faces as he had mocked their lifestyle and Christian beliefs. Tears began to roll down his cheeks. “Could they ever forgive me?”
……………………………….
David looked down at the verse before him. He went cold;
“I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!” and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.”
Bring my sons from afar …” Isaiah 43 vs5b – 6b.
“Father please forgive me. I long for Kyle and want him home. I claim this promise from You today. Please reach out to Kyle wherever he is and bring him home to us.”
………………………………………….
Kyle knew what he had to do. “Father God please forgive me, help my family to forgive me too.” He felt an amazing peace as he made his way out of the shelter and began the long journey home.
“We know most when we know least, when all that we would like to be is swallowed up in God.”
Smith Wigglesworth.
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