Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Bon Voyage (09/05/05)
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TITLE: One Last Time | Previous Challenge Entry
By Julie Peterson
09/10/05 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
She set down the box carefully and went to unpack her suitcase. The porter had put down her single bag on the luggage rack. Gone were the days when they had several bags apiece. Time seems to move too quickly, Margaret thought as she hung up her dress for the formal dinner that night.
Jim and Margaret had met on this ship 32 years before, and every year they had booked this very stateroom on the same week as they celebrated God bringing them into each other’s life. 32 years of laughter and water and sunshine. 32 years of children and growing and coming and going. And now, she was alone in this all too familiar place. God, please give me the strength to go on each day, and to remember only the Joy that You gave us.
She looked down at the itinerary on the bedside table. All the ‘things to do’ brought back precious memories and made her smile. Margaret knew that she would more than likely not participate in any of the off-ship activities in the familiar places they would travel. “Lord, it just isn’t fun to do those things alone. Bring me peace this week as I reflect and heal from this loss in my life,” she whispered.
She finished unpacking and placed her suitcase in the closet. She was tired from the plane ride and the taxi ride. Margaret lay down on the small bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
A sharp knock on the door woke her. She collected herself and opened the door. There it was, and tears flooded her eyes. Jim never forgot anything. On the tray being offered to her by the porter was a single pink rose and a small card. She thanked the porter and sent him on his way. Margaret walked back to the bed and sat down, holding the perfect flower and opening the card, fingers shaking.
“Sweetheart, God has blessed me with a perfect love in you. This year has been difficult and I thank you for staying by my side. We knew my time was ending here on earth, and you stayed and prayed daily and I thank God for every minute we had. I am sending this to the cruise line so you will have a reminder of my love for you, but more than that, of the Love of the Father. Promise me you will still smile and walk the decks and go to the beaches. We will be together soon. My love forever, Jim”
She had promised to keep this booking on the ship, and she would keep all the promises she had made to him.
Margaret grabbed a tissue from the box on the bedside table and wiped her eyes. She looked out the stateroom window and saw that the stars were already shining brightly. Changing into casual clothes and comfortable shoes, she prepared herself for the task at hand. Yes, Jim. Every last promise will be kept. She carefully placed the small bronze box, her bible and the rose into her woven shoulder bag and left the stateroom.
Margaret made her way to the walking deck and went to the railing that had been their meeting place so many years before. She set down the bag on the deck and took out her bible. Turning to Philippians 1 she found the scripture and read. ‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy’. (Phil 1:3-4 NIV) Picking up the box, she carefully opened the lid and said one last goodbye as the ashes drifted into the sea. ‘Bon Voyage, my love’.
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