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: Before and After (05/14/09)
It was the summer of 1969. I was six years old.

“That was your Aunt Stella on the phone; they’re coming for a visit,” Dad said.

I knew exactly what that meant. Clear the clutter. Clean the fridge. Sweep. Mop. Dust. Our house was a tiny, four room box. At this moment, for once, I was glad for the size.

“Hurry,” Mom panicked. “We’re running out of time. They could be here any second.” It wouldn’t have been quite the rush but we also had to go to our garden, where the rows were all lined perfectly and without any weeds to hinder growth to pick vegetables. City folks expected these fresh vegetables when they came to the country.

Finally done cleaning, sitting at the table, looking lovely, with a nice basket of ripe garden vegetables in the center, we were ready. I was ready. Always ready to be doted upon.

I could hear tires on the gravel road approaching slowly, very slowly. It had to be Aunt Stella and Uncle Del; only city folks drove that slowly on country roads. I got up on my knees on the kitchen chair, and eagerly peered out the window.

A shiny candy apple red Mustang convertible pulled into our long drive. The annoyances of the long, hot hours of cleaning and gardening disappeared immediately, and were replaced with overwhelming delight. My love for my Aunt and Uncle caused me to quickly forget the drops of sweat that had rolled down my face just moments BEFORE their arrival.

As the car came to a stop, I was running out the backdoor to greet them. Hugs and kisses, and more hugs and kisses. Joy filled the air.

“The car? Aunt Stella, the car?” I asked. I had never before seen such a beautiful car, and it was especially beautiful with my Aunt and Uncle in it.

Aunt Stella smiled and said, “I just got it for my fortieth birthday. We thought a drive to the country would be the perfect place to try it out. We wanted you to experience the feeling; there is nothing like it.” With only a shout to my parents, we were backing out of the driveway.

The top was down. The wind was in my hair, the sun in my eyes. The trees and the grass flew by. It felt natural. It felt perfect. The feeling was indescribable; so good and free.

AFTER that experience, for the next thirty years, every time I saw a red Mustang convertible, the feeling of that ride tickled my tummy.

June 27, 2003 as I sleepily walked into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, my eyes couldn’t help but gaze out the window. For a moment, I thought Aunt Stella and Uncle Del had driven to the country to wish me a happy 40th birthday. Feeling like I was in a daze, I opened the back door and walked down the steps. I walked up to the new candy apple red mustang convertible and saw a sign in the window: “Happy 40th birthday, dreams really do come true.” Without thought, I jumped into the car, turned it on, and backed out of the driveway. The giver of this wonderful and miraculous surprise had Whiteheart’s song blasting on the CD player:

Come on, let’s all jump in, gonna take this car for a little spin,
Oh, hear the motor hum, gonna ride into the endless summer sun,
Wind blowing through my hair, the sky is blue, I haven’t got a care,
Feels so good and free, just like God is sitting next to me,
Oh, don’t you feel it too? You gotta know that it really must be true…
God made convertibles, the sun is shining here, you can see it’s pretty clear…
God made convertibles, and this high I’m riding on is not a manufactured one,
God made convertibles, as you put the pedal down let him lift you off the ground.
Hey, it’s an open road, got this tune cranked up on my radio,
The whole world has got the song, you just can’t help but to sing along,
Oh, can’t hold it in, but like this top, hearts are opened up to him.
God made convertibles…
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 738 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Connie Dixon
05/26/09
Loved this. I am a big convertible fan, wouldn't be without one. Your story reminds me of a favorite aunt and uncle who are old but still retain their "cool" factor. Good job on this entry.