Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: White (10/29/09)
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TITLE: Cotton | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mary McLeary
11/02/09 -
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For as long as Laura could remember, the cotton had been picked in October. But this October, they had been blessed with and abundance of rain. Therefore, the fields still lay as white as a sheet around their house.
The standard joke when making a purchase was, “That’s nothing in cotton country.” But in reality any purchase had become something. A good crop was sorely needed.
A year ago, Laura’s husband Gus had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He had felt tired but thought nothing of it. When he went in to give blood for a blood drive at work, the nurse had sent him directly to his doctor because he was so anemic. That had probably saved his life. Since then they had been totally focused on beating the disease.
The side effects of the treatments were worse than the symptoms of the cancer. Gus’ feet had become numb so he tottered around when he felt like getting up. He endured the bought with shingles and worked at keeping a positive outlook.
The positive outlook would have been impossible if not for the faith in God he and Laura shared. They prayed incessantly and claimed every word of healing mention in scripture. They were seeing God’s healing hand and Laura was so thankful. But cancer always takes a toll on the pocket book as well as the body. They needed a good cotton crop.
Yesterday they had a good laugh when Gus waxed poetic and out of the blue recited an original little rhyme which went,
The cotton is fluffy and white
We need some days that are sunny and bright.
The farmers are ready to pick it
So God, please turn off the spicket!!
God must have heard Gus’ poetic prayer, because the sun had come out yesterday. Today was shinny bright and that was supposed to continue for the rest of the week. While having her first cup of coffee, she had seen Matt walking around in the nearest field trying to decide if the ground was dry enough to support the massive cotton picker.
As Laura got ready to take Gus to his next doctor’s appointment, the phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Mrs. Moore, this is Frank Fielder.” Frank was their family attorney.
“Hello, Frank. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks. How is Mr. Moore?”
“He’s much better, Frank. Thank you for asking.”
“That’s excellent, and I have some more excellent news for you.”
Frank was young and enthusiastic about almost everything so Laura grinned and replied, “ I love excellent news Frank. Tell me what it is.”
“Well you remember the old stock certificate from the Cotton Mills Co. you gave me to research?”
“Yes, I found it in some old papers my mother gave me.”
“Yes, that’s what you told me. I had one of our assistants working on it, and she found the company that holds those stocks.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that stock has increased in value many times over the years.”
“It’s worth something?”
“I’d say so.” Frank laughed. “Mrs. Moore if you cash in that stock certificate, you would receive over $100,000.00.”
Gus had come into the room just in time to hear Laura’s shriek. “What on earth?” he asked.
Laura motioned him to hush and finished her conversation with Frank, instructing him to cash in the stock certificate.
“Frank, what verse in the Bible have we claimed most often since you started your treatments?”
“There have been many, but I guess Proverbs 3:5-6 is the one that I think of most. And he quoted the verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.”
After she told him everything Frank had said about the old stock that had been in a dusty box for over one hundred years, there was an awe filled silence as they realized God had used white cotton to provide the difference between what they owed in medical bills and what their insurance company would pay.
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