Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Black (10/15/09)
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TITLE: Choose Wisely | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Hill
10/19/09 -
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All is well in her world.
It’s Friday, a beautiful summer evening in the country, and Laura will never forget this day.
Laura can’t help but think it would be nice if she had someone, a special person to share this with. That would make it so much more enjoyable.
But she’s such a mess, so much baggage, “no one would want to share a life with me,” she says out loud.
With a deep sigh, she remembers how hard she’s tried, three times she’s tried. Marriage, kids, happily ever after, til death do us part, but she can’t seem to get it right. She knows no one will ever love her.
Here she sits, on someone else’s property, not even having a home of her own. She feels like such a failure.
She doesn’t have a job, no matter how hard she tries she can’t find one.
She’s living here for free, just to be a presence on this ranch with no neighbors. She’s keeping the vandals away, that’s her only value in this world, keeping people away. “If it wasn’t for that no one would want me.”
“I’m worthless, my life is so meaningless” she cries out for no one to hear.
This is what it’s come to, a lifetime of hard work has gotten me nowhere; no home, no job, I have no one; “ there’s no hope for me” she cries.
Nothing has changed on the outside, but inside Laura feels depression take her captive and a black cloud rolls in. She can see it, feel it, and even taste it’s bitterness.
As her sky turns black everything in her world suddenly becomes ugly. Laura’s mood darkens, she doesn’t want to do anything, talk to anyone, go anywhere. She doesn’t even want to be alive.
But this day is different. Today, right in the midst of her surrender to the dreadful thoughts that assault her and the black cloud that enshrouds her, Laura hears a voice. It’s but a whisper; “Is that what I told you?”
Laura sheepishly asks; “Lord, is that You?”
“Yes My child, it is I. You need to choose this day whom you will serve. You are listening to the enemy of your soul. You must know I would never say such things to you, You are My beloved, I died for you. Make the choice Laura, who will you listen to? Choose wisely My child.”
Reaching over to the other side of the swing, Laura grabs her Bible and begins flipping through pages.
Finding what she’s looking for in the book of Philippians, Laura reads and rereads verse 4:8; “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
A smile begins to emerge. “Thank you Father.”
Just as the sun sinks behind the mountain Laura looks out at the radiant colors lighting the sky. Her spirit lifts and she raises her voice in praises and sings for joy to her Lord.
Laura knows the black cloud will try to return, but next time she’ll choose wisely.
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Be careful of the difference between "it's" (with an apostrophe) and "its" (without one). "It's" means "it is", and shouldn't be used when you want the possessive (as in your first paragraph). You used it correctly a few sentences later. To remember the possessive, try substituting "his" or "hers"--no apostrophe.
The ending was great--the image of the little black cloud will linger.