The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Luggage (08/15/05)
"She's carrying a lot of luggage from her past!" I've heard that expression many times in my long full life. I always thought of it as belonging to someone else until I applied it to myself.

The first memory I can coax up in my minds eye, relating to luggage, is one that involved me as an nine or ten year old little girl. My parents had recently separated and I was sent to live with my grandparents on a city block in Brooklyn. My mother had to return to work so I would visit her, in her apartment, on weekends. I traveled by streetcar to and from her home and carried my change of clothes in a small, navy blue, hard covered suitcase. I remember how I hated that suitcase. I was positive that everyone on the streetcar knew that my parents were apart and that I was the product of a broken home, words that were only whispered about in those times, never spoken out loud.

During those months of separation from two parents whom I loved dearly I was fortunate to be with grandparents who showered me with their love. And only as an adult did I come to realize that the heartbreak that had entered my life then was part of the Master's plan.

Playing on the sidewalk at my grandparents home with my new friends, I was invited by one of them to visit an empty store at the corner of our street. Following after her we approached a middle aged woman hanging up a sign in the store window. As we strained to read the words, the woman who I can still picture vividly in my mind, invited us into the store. Those were the days when children could play freely on city streets and not be wary of existing evil happening to them. Miss Bernstein introdced herself and invited us to come to her Bible classes on Wednesdays, after school. Her face glowed with happiness and her eyes shone with kindness. Thankfully, my grandparents gave me permission to go and many of my friends joined along. I remember singing with all my heart to the words of, "I will make you fishers of men." I heard Bible stories and learned about the word of God. I memorized John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I stood gladly when I invited him into my heart as my Lord and Savior. I had no idea that out of the chaos in my parents and my life came one of the most important decisions I was ever to make in my lifetime.

Eventually, my parents reconciled and I returned to their home miles away, leaving behind the streetcar and suitcase trips and any follow-up of my relationship with the Lord. My grandparents moved to Florida and I never saw Miss Bernstein again.

As I went through my teens and young adulthood I lived a life that didn't include putting Christ first. I was always aware of Him but I didn't nurture that personal relationship. I married my soul mate and had no idea that this man was going to become saved one day too. I continued living life according to my own wants and desires and always had a feeling of loneliness tugging at my heart. I secretly blamed it on my parents separation and those streetcar trips with the suitcase. I had no inkling that it was my separation from my heavenly father.

One year during the recuperation of my young daughter's bout with encephalitis, the school system sent a tutor to our home to work with her. She was a Christian and the one responsible to bringing me back to the Lord. My husband and I and our children accepted her invitation to attend her bible teaching church and it was there that I realized that I had finally come home. My heart was overfilled with joy.

And now I understand, that even though I was carrying a lot of luggage with me, mine was made lighter by the decision I made one day in a little street mission on a corner in Brooklyn.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1123 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Theresa Kissinger
08/23/05
Thank you for sharing this testimony...one which causes me to rejoice with you.
Jan Ackerson
08/26/05
My favorite line: I realized that I had finally come home. Very nice.
Tisha Martin
08/27/05
Left me with tears in my eyes. What a sad-turned-beautiful tale of a trek on a streetcar with a blue piece of luggage that led you to a Christian lady who was a grand influence in your life to show you the way to Heaven! Thank you for sharing this with us! (In my mind, I think this is a true story; it's an amazing testimony!) I could see this in a magazine somewhere!
Marilyn Schnepp 
11/23/05
Here I am again, reading more of your work; this too, was very well written and it seems as if you were born to write. I am new to faithwriters, and have only just begun...but you have encouraged me. Thank you. I enjoyed this and will read more of your work...perhaps it will rub off on me..."smile".