Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Home (01/09/06)
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TITLE: A House Is Not A Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Audrey Shockley
01/16/06 -
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As she wept uncontrollably, Beth wondered how it had come to this. She and Rick had been so happy early in their marriage, before life had happened. As Beth looked around the house, she couldn’t help but feel that this was only a house, a mere material possession. Not the home she and Rick had always promised each other they would build for their family together.
Beth had lived a charmed, and what most would consider, a normal American life. She was vice president of marketing in the banking industry while Rick was owner of several mechanic garages throughout their tri-state area. They had a nice, four-bedroom house with the typical 2 children. Kate, their oldest, was now married and expecting her first child. Bryan had just begun his sophomore year at the state college a couple of hours away.
As she felt the onset of more tears, Beth remembered back to when she and Rick had purchased their first house. Beth, only a bank teller at the time, and Rick, a mechanic for a local trucking company, had managed to save enough money to purchase a small house in what most would consider, not a great part of town. It was right after Kate was born, and Beth and Rick decided an apartment was just not suitable for raising a child. Even though the house was small in size, the charm it possessed made up for what it lacked. With only two bedrooms and one bath, they did not have room to hide from one another for privacy. They had to embrace the closeness and make this small house a warm and loving home. When Bryan came along, they prepared Kate to share her room. His birth made their family and home complete.
As time pressed on, so did life, and life brought many changes to their young family. Beth moved up the corporate ladder within the bank. She moved from branch manager to community relations director and eventually to her current high-profile position. Along with the promotions came more responsibility and hours. Sure, Beth knew that she was taking precious time away from her family, but she had thought what she was not providing in time she was giving to wealth, a nice home in a nice neighborhood, luxurious family vacations, nice vehicles to drive and accommodating all of their needs for material possessions. Without her salary, Rick could not have begun his mechanic business. As Rick had become engrossed with all of the responsibilities of business ownership and taking care of their children, there was no time left for their marriage.
Last year, when Bryan had left for college, Beth and Rick realized just what they had left of their home – nothing. The fighting began. Beth, adjusting to life without children, now devoted more time to her job, hoping to eventually become president. Rick quickly realized he would be better off on his own. A few months ago, he even moved into his own apartment.
Now, with the papers in hand, Beth realized the reality of the situation at hand. She just kept wondering to herself, “How had it come to this?” They were once inseparable, and now, they did not even know each other.
Five Days Later …
As Beth walked through the doors of their church, she realized part of the problem in her marriage. Even with his busy schedule, Rick had always made time to attend church, and to ensure his children did as well. Beth would often miss to get in a few hours of paperwork at the bank while no one was there.
During the “Meet and Greet” section of the worship service, Beth felt a hand on her shoulder. As she turned around, tears in his eyes, Rick hugged her and drew her close. Beth could feel the tears welling up in her own eyes. As they sat through the remainder of the service hand in hand, Beth knew this was just the beginning of the rest of their lives together, and, with God’s help, they would rebuild their home – this time, together.
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