Sharing and Caring | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Sharing and Caring | Previous Challenge Entry
By Julene Celander
09/02/14
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As Dottie stepped off the train, she felt like she was walking on air. Her heart beat with a new vitality and she couldn’t get the refrain from ‘Sweetest Name I Know’ out of her head.

Ermaline had changed her life by introducing her to Jesus. God knew how long she had been turning her back to Him and anything to do with Him. He also knew her mother’s dying wish had been for her to accept Jesus as her Savior.

That’s why Ermaline had found her in the hall outside her cabin door sobbing. Sure Mom had tried to tell her how wonderful it was to know Jesus. But, Dottie had a habit of turning a deaf ear to her mother…or anyone else who brought up the subject.

Ermaline was different. She quietly listened as Dottie poured out her heart and didn’t talk down to her. Instead she told her what a joy it was to have Jesus in her heart and have the faith to know He would take care of her in everything. She showed kindness and gentleness and love. Dottie felt peace surround her the minute the stranger held out her hand to help her off the floor.

Ermaline had also given her the pastor’s information and suggested she make an appointment with him to get full emersion baptism so she would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That was Dottie’s first call. The second was to Ermaline to let her know when the baptism would be. Ermaline promised to be there.

Ermaline watched as the pastor immersed Dottie. She felt joy like she had never believed she could feel. The sun shining through the stained glass window above the baptismal gave a beautiful glow as Dottie rose from the water. She could hardly wait to invite Dottie to her loft for some fellowship and ‘girl talk’ after church.

The lunch was simple. They snacked on fruit and yogurt and hard cooked eggs. Ermaline set out whole grain bread with cream cheese and black raspberry jam. As they ate, they talked.

“Meeting you on that train had to be the best day of my life! I retreated from all my woes and sorrows by collapsing into a crying fit and at the time I didn’t even understand why I was sobbing.”

“You just needed a friendly ear. After all, you did just lose your mother. I know how guilty you felt about not fulfilling her dying wish. God was convicting you and He used me to bring you to Him. He has a way of putting people who need each other together.”

Ermaline cleared the table and put on water to boil for tea. She set out her favorite cups and saucers. The ones her grandmother had given her. The fine bone china cups covered with lilies of the valley accompanied with like saucers.

“Oh how beautiful!” exclaimed Dottie. “Where did you get such wonderful delicate pieces?”

“They belonged to my grandmother. These are the cups and saucers she always brought out when we had tea time together. We had many discussions over steaming cups of tea and many good laughs.”

“Your grandmother sounds like a lot of fun! I don’t think I have ever seen such pretty lilies of the valley.”

“Her birthday was in May. The flower for May is lily of the valley. But they came to represent much more to her than that. Her favorite song became ‘He’s the Lily of the Valley’. She is the person in my life that taught me about Jesus. She’s the reason I don’t know a stranger. She impressed upon me the importance of being kind in a cruel world.”

“I certainly thank both her and you for your kindness. Now, let’s discuss what options we have with getting your screen plays into the right hands. I know a director who would love the stuff you write! May I take one of your plays for him to read?”

“Of course. When my journey to Los Angeles began I was somewhat leery about how things would work out. Then I put my life into God’s hands and met a new friend. A new friend who just happened to be in the business, and an agent no less!”

“My pleasure, girlfriend! I only hope that this friendship continues to grow as we share and fellowship over these marvelous cups and saucers. What a reminder of a loving God and grandmother.”

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