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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bookends (01/30/14)
On a day, just another boring ordinary day, I wandered the halls in my large house aimlessly. Within these walls, I had played, cried, loved, and hated. This is the place I call home.

"Hmmmmmm, maybe I will sit in the library?" I thought to myself. Oh, what a glorious room filled with chronicles of all kinds; tales of great warriors; accounts of deep sorrows overcome by love; and how-tos on everything. The smell of the worn pages on towering shelves, the sunlight streaming through curtain encased windows, and the coolness of the late afternoon spring air beckoned me to curl up with a book.

Glancing through the enchanting room, I noticed four unfamiliar books between bookends carved of stone. One stone read "Alpha" and the other "Omega." The first book was a leather-bound Bible with wear marks from generations of use. The next was a standard Dictionary. The remaining two caught my attention: a "Family Photo Album" and "My Life by God's Design."

Taking the latter two books, I moved to my papa's old high-back leather chair. Inhaling deeply, I nuzzled in to explore these strange books. First, I opened the photo album. There, I recognized pictures from my childhood, rebellious teen years, and wedding; however, the images of me as an old woman startled me. I am but 40 years old! How could this be? I recalled most of the faces; some were foreign yet seemed comforting somehow.

Unsettled, I picked up "My Life by God's Design" uncertain what I would find after such an extraordinary experience with the photo album. I read the first chapter becoming lost in the words and tenderness of each pen stroke. It was the story of my parents. Chapter two described the people God had placed in my life as a child. In my mind's eye, I saw depictions of how God had used me to demonstrate His love to others and how they taught me lessons I would need later. Smiling, I felt drawn to continue reading as if in a trance.

Each chapter exposed greater detail of who I am in Christ. It was amazing! I had never seen myself through His eyes. Never had I recognized how special I am to Him. I knew He loved me, but this was … truly heart warming. With each confirmation, scales of self-loathing shed off me as if from a dead fish.

About half way through the book, I found nothing but blank pages. Almost frantic, I flipped through the remaining sheets. Nothing! With that I noticed my old t-shirt and jeans had transformed into a beautiful white summer dress. Standing, I went to the mirror in the hall. There I saw myself as God sees me: playful, creative, inspiring, tenacious, energetic, a bit stubborn, and beautiful. Wow! What a difference from my self-image: dull, boring, pig-headed, and forgettable.

Returning to the library, I asked God what to make of "My Life by God's Design," especially the empty pages. In a loving voice, I heard "Ohhh My little girl, those pages are for you to fill. Now that you can see yourself clearer through my eyes, I want you to fill the empty spaces in your book with love, peace, and joy. How this story ends is up to you. You can continue on with blinders of guilt or shine forward as the new creation you are through Me."

With that, I returned the books between the bookends professing, "the beginning" and "the end." I leaned back in the chair as if curling into papa's lap like I did as a wee child. I hugged myself as I professed my love for God, His creations, and myself. I no longer felt aimless. I determined through prayer and obedience I would fill those pages with acts of compassion for other women who could not accept His overwhelming love for them. My story now had purpose.
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This article has been read 405 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
02/06/14
Excellent work! I loved this from beginning to end.

I especially loved this part:
"Ohhh My little girl, those pages are for you to fill. Now that you can see yourself clearer through my eyes, I want you to fill the empty spaces in your book with love, peace, and joy. How this story ends is up to you. You can continue on with blinders of guilt or shine forward as the new creation you are through Me."

Nicely done!

God bless~
Toni Hammer
02/07/14
Beautiful. I smiled bemused at how the protagonist (you?) saw herself as pigheaded while The Lord sees her as just a little stubborn. How easy it is to make our flaws larger than our good qualities.
Amelia Brown 
02/08/14
Very interesting story, I like the message it delivered. Keep writing.
Larry Whittington
02/08/14
A very challenging way to express the use of the "book ends" - our life in-between. God give us the responsibility to fill it in.

Good story and illustration.
Stacie Snell
02/10/14
Great story. It left me with a lot to think about. I too loved the part where God spoke to you about how to fill the empty pages. I could hear the tenderness of our Father through your writing.

And I loved your ending and how you decided to venture on helping other women to see themselves as God sees them.
Sheldon Bass 
02/12/14
Good job on this entry. Good story telling. Keep up the great work.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/14/14
Congratulations on ranking 6th in level one! The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.