Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Actions Speak Louder than Words" (without using the actual phrase). (02/21/08)
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TITLE: Love's Principle | Previous Challenge Entry
By c clemons
02/28/08 -
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There was Michael nine, Brooke seven, Victoria five and Joshua just three. That was a running laugh in this family when asked, “How old are you Joshua? His reply was, ‘I’m Joshua, just three.’ ”
Michelle needed that laugh daily since Bill had left. Fortunately with help from her parents and even Bill’s parents things were not too bad. She tried to keep the kids routines the same as when Bill was here, hence the reason she was trying to get them out the door on time.
“Come on downstairs, we have got to be out the door in five minutes!”
As they trooped out to the car, Joshua said, “Mommy wait, I wanna take PooPoo Bear today. Wait I hav’ ta get him.”
“Alright but hurry.” Michelle said a little impatiently.
The rest of the kids were buckled in as little Joshua ran to the vehicle and Michelle picked him up and buckled him in. The day was beautiful the sun shining and inviting. The drive was pretty uneventful no bickering or whining coming from the back. Michelle actually got lost in thought. She started thinking about the last year how initially she thought Bill’s leaving would be a deathblow to this family. But with God’s grace she had realized that his leaving was really a blessing. Abuse is never okay, and her trying to keep it together for the kids was not right. In fact it was the kids that had convinced her, they had said, “Daddy needs to go, Mommy” Still every night they all continued to pray for him.
“Hey kids, I just want you to know, I love you guys okay?”
“Love you too Mommy” said three of the four. Michael considered himself way to old for such declarations.
As the car rounded the bend, there he stood at the driveway. A homeless man was there at the church entrance every Sunday.
“Oh no, thought Michelle, He’s here again, Every Sunday without fail, I’m sure he thinks that this is a good spot to beg for money.”
“MOMMY, MOMMY, STOP!” cried out Joshua.
Thinking something was horribly wrong, Michelle slammed on the brakes. She turned to see what was the matter with Joshua.
“Mommy roll down the window I wanna give the man PooPoo Bear.” said Joshua.
“What?”
“I wanna give the man PooPoo Bear.”
The car had stopped right next to the man holding his “Can You Spare Some Change?” sign.
Michelle felt compelled to do as she was asked. Rolling down the window, she was about to give the man some change when little Joshua piped up and said, “Hello, I’m Joshua just three, I wanna give you PooPoo Bear he’ll play with you. He loves you and Jesus does too.”
The man took PooPoo Bear and smiled at Joshua. Michelle was so outdone at what her little Joshua had done she could not concentrate on that day’s message entitled “Love Thy Neighbor.”
The next Sunday, Michelle and the brood made it out of the house without incident. She had thought Joshua would miss his PooPoo Bear during the week, but he never mentioned him at all. This time when Michelle rounded the bend the familiar fixture was not there. “Hmmm, Michelle thought, I wonder did Joshua’s gift shame him into moving his operations somewhere else? I hope so because it’s not nice to try and take advantage of good people.”
Michelle and her clan filed into church. On the back row much to Michelle’s surprise was the homeless man. He was clean-shaven and neatly dressed. And sitting next to him was PooPoo Bear.
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I wasn't sure what Bill's leaving had to do with the rest of the story; since it never "went anywhere", it almost seemed like part of a different story with these same characters.
Watch out for run-on sentences.
I love stories that show the sweetness and innocence of children.
Critique: It needs some editing on punctuation and spelling...then could be a winner for sure.