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: STRETCH (04/08/21)
The first morning my wife grunted, “ouf,ouf, ouch. This stretching is making me sore.”
I encouraged her, “Keep at it. Compare our exercising to stretching yourself for God. We want to stretch ourselves to follow God’s calling.”
My twelve-year old daughter, Melissa, who had been watching us in the recreation room, proudly stated, “It’s easy, Mom. Watch me.”
Marianne, my wife smiled, “Melissa, you go to tumble class and junior gymnastics three times a week. You’re used to exercising, stretching, and you’re young.”
Melissa beamed, “Ms. Wallace, my tumble instructor says, “Just keep doing it.”
Marianne and I continued stretching for another half an hour. We stretched for a half an hour every day for five days a week. After the second week I actually looked forward to it.
“You know honey, this stretching exercise is giving me more energy. I feel like doing things like jogging and maybe bike riding.”
Melissa answered, “Are you trying to get me on a bike again?”
“Yes. You, Melissa, Sam, and I can start going on bike trips together.”
“You know, maybe this stretching will bring our family closer together, Bill. A simple thing as stretching can really get us on the right path both physically and mentally.”
I said, “Maybe we need to stretch ourselves and start having family Bible study again? When was the last time we all sat down and had Bible Study together?”
“When have we had the time, Bill? I enjoy stretching, maybe quality time with the family is something we should do. Sam, our son, our high school football star – whatever happened to him? I never spend quality time with him. I only see him in the morning before school at the breakfast table and Saturday afternoon when he is waking from sleeping all morning.”
I said, “We need to find time so we can bring this family back together again. Sam needs it, Melissa needs it, and we need it. How are we going to do it?
Marianne answered, “Stretch. We will stretch our family dinner to three times a week. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. We all must be there for dinner and family prayer time.”
I shouted upstairs to the kids, “Hey, Sam and Melissa, can you both come down to the kitchen table? Your Mom and I have something we want to discuss.”
When Melissa and Sam came down to the kitchen table, I began, “I want to suggest we all have a family dinner three times a week with Bible study.”
Sam said, “No way. I have football practice, I need to go to the weight room, I have to study, I need to spend time with my friends, and I need to work on my car.”
Melissa said, “What about tumble class and gymnastics?”
Marianne replied, “Your father and I want us to spend quality time together as a family. So much of our lives we just run around and evolve away from each other. We need to communicate and get interested in one another again.”
I spoke up, “I know the most important thing in our lives is our relationship to God. Family time is important, too. This is one way we can connect to God and each other is by spending time with one another and having Bible study. Let’s try it and see how it goes. I am flexible. We can move dinner to 6:45 pm and stop at 8:15 pm if that would make it easier. Sam, I can help you with your car on the weekends. We can each take turns selecting what food we want for dinner.”
Sam said, “Let’s try it. It might work. Football practice doesn’t start for another four months.”
Marianne said, “Melissa, I’ll get you back from tumble class so we can make dinner together.”
After the first few weeks, I thought we were doing well. We just kept having dinner together and communicating. One night Sam asked me, “I have a friend, Jason, who might like to join our dinner. We lift weights together and his mom is single and doesn’t get home until late. He told me he has to make his own dinner.”
Marianne looked at me and said, “Stretch.”
I replied, “This is supposed to be a family gathering, but if we can include our friends from time to time it might be the Lord’s calling.”
Melissa added, “Maybe Jason will learn about God.”
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 377 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Noel Mitaxa 
04/16/21
Some lively dialogue, but it's unfortunately lost without para breaks.
Each paragraph should only have one idea or one person's speech, and any replies or comments belong in the next para. This makes it easier to read, and it
builds readers' interest.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/22/21
This is a lovely story of family working together. You have some nice dialog. I bet if you go back and read how many times you used the topic word stretch. Some of the most on topic articles never use the topic word. Go through and read the EC and see how it can be on topic without overusing topic word. You have a nice, clear message. The ending brought a smile to my face. Keep writing. I look forward to reading more of your work.