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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Short End of the Stick (02/20/14)
There’s the woman who has been married for almost forty years and continues to live with an alcoholic husband who has been “dry” for almost ten years. My friend struggled through the child-rearing years single-handedly while her husband was lost in the sea of alcohol.

Did she get the “short end of the stick?” Or has she lived and loved as Jesus calls us to live and love?

You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
Mt 5: 43:45 NABRE


Then there’s the friend whose son and daughter-in-law were expecting their first child. A little boy was born and died within hours.

Did they get the “short end of the stick?” Or have they been consoled with the birth of another healthy boy and even a little girl a few years later?

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Mt 5:4 NABRE

Despite family members urging that she put her mother in a nursing home, a sixty-plus friend gave her life over to the care of her mother. Her selflessness continued until her mother’s death many years later.

Did she get the “short end of the stick?” Or did her love shine brightly in the world?

You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Mt:5 13-16 NABRE


A woman whose children refuse to have anything to do with her reaches out repeatedly letting them know that her heart and door are always open.

Did she get the “short end of the stick?” Or does she remain hopeful in the awareness of God’s love?

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Mt:5 11-12 NABRE
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This article has been read 576 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
02/28/14
Brilliant approach to the topic at hand.

You've intricately woven details of life as a segue into powerful verses from the Bible. Fabulous job...powerfully done.

God bless~
Toni Hammer
02/28/14
This is a very thought provoking take on the topic. Thank you for writing and sharing it. I'll be pondering those verses in Matthew for awhile.

What version is NABRE?
Lillian Rhoades 
03/01/14
I like how you organized this piece. I couldn't tell if the characters were people you knew, or fictional. In any event, to make your characters "live" you might want to consider identifying them by name. For ex: Instead of "There’s the woman who has been married for almost forty years and continues to live with an alcoholic husband who has been “dry” for almost ten years. You might write something like this:

There are women like my friend, Mary Jo, who have remained married for forty years to husbands who were alcoholics. Now after ten years, they remain sober.

Mary Jo struggled..."


Lillian Rhoades 
03/01/14
My computer did its own thing before I could add: Your biblically based perspective gives much food for thought.
Hannah R
03/01/14
I enjoyed this serious article and I think it was well written. :)
Rachel Malcolm 
03/06/14
These are powerful questions that can change our perspective on life. I love the stories that you shared and the scripture that shows God's hand in the midst of dark trials.

I think that this article could be even more powerful if you added some details to bring the stories to life. Perhaps you could show the wife of the alcoholic man crying out to God for wisdom and strength. Or maybe show the woman whose children won't have anything to do with her choosing forgiveness when she's hurting over a vicious snub.

These are such vital truths that you shared. I've been blessed!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/07/14
Congratulations on ranking 6th in your level. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.