Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
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TITLE: BOLD BEFORE GOD | Previous Challenge Entry
By Martha Ford
09/06/07 -
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“Home,” she said to no one there as she threw her purse on the couch, her coat on the chair and headed for the kitchen. So much of her life was automatic requiring no planning, no thought. But tonight routine didn’t help, it irritated.
“Why am I so jumpy?” She stepped out of her shoes, leaving them in the living room floor. No one would notice.
Marie had been alone most of her adult life. Now that the children were grown her life outside of Church and work had become truly singular. She had friends and activities to occupy her mind, but it was the extreme emptiness when she closed her door against the world that took her breath away.
“What’s the matter with me?” she said and began to make supper. Supper was supposed to be shared with someone.
Marie couldn’t remember her last hug, the warmth and smell of being close to someone you loved and who loved you. Her heart ached.
“Stop it! You’re getting maudlin. I’m not only talking to no one there, I’m talking to myself.”
The food had no taste, brought no pleasure. She dumped it in the garbage disposal, the breaking plate jerking her temporarily back to reality.
“No! Not one of these plates. Why can’t I break one of the ugly plates? I’m so clumsy, and stupid.” Tears ran down her face.
Marie gave up crying years ago when her husband left her with three children. She had been too busy for tears then. Lately she seemed to be making up for all those missed tears.
“God, why? Am I not your child? I can’t believe I’m meant to be alone. I know You have always been there for me, but I need someone with skin on to share the rest of my life with.”
Marie paced up and down the living room. What began as a rant had become a prayer. She dialogued with God all the time; sure she actually heard His reply on many occasions. She had never demanded anything from Him.
“As a child of God I have certain rights and privileges. That’s what my preacher said last week. I can’t imagine, LORD, that I was meant to spend the rest of my life alone. I admit I didn’t choose wisely in the past, so I’m asking You for a life partner of Your choice. Give me the strength to wait and let You do this work in Your own time.”
Marie’s burden immediately felt lighter. The tears had changed from despair to peace. Calm prevailed for the first time is recent memory. But that’s not the end of the story.
Three weeks later Marie received a telephone call from the past, forty-two years past. An old classmate, whom she dated only a few times, said he had been thinking about her and decided to track her down.
“Do you remember me?” he asked.
“Of course I do,” she replied. Her heart jumped. Could this be God’s doing? Don’t interfere, leave it to Him and watch Him work, she thought.
Long conversations on the phone became visits, meeting each other’s children and sharing a common past growing up in a small town.
“LORD, thank you for bringing him into my life. He’s the best friend I ever had. And having a friend is very important.”
“In the Day when I cried out, You answered me, and made my bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138: 3, NKJV
Epilogue:
A year and a half later, Marie married her old childhood sweetheart and gained an entire new family. She even has an earthly father and mother for the first time in 20 years. God is good.
Word Count: 624
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