Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Teacher (10/26/06)
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TITLE: The Lesson with a Blessin | Previous Challenge Entry
By sharon thompson
11/01/06 -
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As the holidays draw nearer we all get anxious about up
coming events. I am one of the millions of americans
that look forward to Christmas. I feel that I, more then
most over extend myself in preparations for this.
Being in charge of Christmas social activities for our
church I begin preparing as early as October. I want
the best and biggest party for the members I can come
up with. They deserve a reward for their devotion to
the church all year long.
So my plans begin. I decided this year I would have the
food catered as so my hands would be free to spread the
Christmas cheer around. To help hold down cost I offered
to host the party at my fourteen room home. I had a pool
room in the basement that would be a hit with the guys.
I had a table in my dining room that would seat eight
for bingo, so I felt comfortable with this decision.
I spent three weeks decorating every room in the house.
The upstairs, the downstairs, even the bathrooms were
full of Christmas spirit. It was my favorite time of
the year.
Everyone was looking forward to the big bash at my house.
There would be door prizes, little gifts for all, and
games to play. And of course lots and lots of food.
I made sure there were snacks in every room. I had the
music all picked out that would fill the air with
cheer.
Well it was only one week until the big day. All things
were ready. Food was ordered, the house looked great.
I was at my best this year, after all I was the adult
bible teacher there, I did have a reputation to uphold.
I always taught that in all you do, you should do it as
unto the Lord. I had done my best for this party to give
back to them for all they had given to me. They had
been great students, backed me up, made me feel someone
had confidence in me.
Well now only two days left, then it happened. I couldn't
have imagined anything any worse then this, if I had
made it up myself.
The biggest snow storm of the year, knocking out all
power, with no hope of getting any for a week. WHAT shall
I do. I have to admit my faith was a little shaken.
God knew all I had done for this party. Three months of
work. Just me, alone, no one else helped, how could
he do this to me.
I can't have a party of sixty people in my home with
no power at all. I was devastated, and not far from
tears. I started making calls, something wonderful was
happening. Each person I talked too still wanted to
come, power or not. They were determined to reap their
reward no matter what.
I couldn't let them down. I gathered candles, oil lamps
and kerosene heaters. The party would go on.
See we get so wrapped up in how we want things, and
wanting people to see what we did that we forget the
real joy behind our efforts. I wanted to show them that
they had the best teacher and I could do the best for
them, and my head got a little to big.
God will bring us down a notch when needed. That night
sixty people came, one by one with a candle. At first
the house was dark, but as each candle was added the
whole house was lit up. From outside you wouldn't have
known we had no power.
That had to be the best party our church ever had. With
no power, we had to use the power of speech and we talked
and became closer to each other that night. I learned
something that night. It was a great lesson with a
blessin. I learned that we don't need the light of the
world to reward us for our efforts only the light within
us. It will be a night I will never forget. We even
stood in the front yard with a oil lamp and sang Christmas
carols.
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