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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW (05/02/19)
The flame of the lamp flickered as the wick slowly burnt away. He stared at it in silence as the strong unction within him arose. His hosts two young children were busy making animal shadows gleefully oblivious to his presence. Something had happened, he could sense it clearly. He bid his host goodnight as he retired to the guest room to pray.

The following morning there was a knock at the door. Peter welcomed his host; who informed him that he had guests. Who could it be? Was this the answer to the unction that he was feeling?

"Shalom," he greeted them.

"Shalom," they responded.

"Brother Peter, I am Dan and this is Machir," the taller of the two men spoke. "We have travelled from Lydda to ask you to come with us. The brethren in Lydda request that you come without delay."
Peter looked at them knowingly. He could tell from their faces that they unwilling to reveal the urgent request before his host. Nodding his head in understanding he accepted to travel with them. He returned to the guest room to collect his satchel. This must be the assignment Lord, isn't it? May your will be done Lord!

Then returning to the living room he bid his hosts family farewell. Dan and Machir seemed a little more relaxed as soon as they were a distance from the house. They quickly narrated to Peter of a lady named Tabitha. She had been a lady full of good works. She was a pillar in the community. Yet recently she had taken ill and now she was dead.

Peter prayed silently as they travelled. He remembered the time Jairos daughter had died. How the mourners had mocked Jesus when he said that the little girl was asleep. He felt a tag in his heart. Some of the mourners he would find would be too grief stricken to apply any faith. He might need to be alone in the room when he prayed for Tabitha. Indeed some of the brethren had some faith. They were willing for Tabitha not to be buried until he came.

Upon arrival Peter was led to the upper chamber. Tabitha lay dead on the bed. The widows who she had helped wept and wailed as they showed Peter the clothes that she had made. They tagged at his robe questioning now a person this generous could be taken from them. Gently but firmly Peter asked them to leave the room. Their grief was full of desperation. He needed to pray alone.

Kneeling by the bedside, Peter prayed "O Lord, you brought me here for a purpose. Look upon the widows with favour. Tabitha sowed love into their lives. It is the love that they have for her that has kept them from burying her. O Lord restore her life."

Turning to the corpse on the bed, Peter spoke "Tabitha, arise."

Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up. She saw Peter give her his hand and took it without question. Peter lifted her up and called the disciples as well as widows awaiting downstairs. There was much rejoicing and praising God.

A passer-by hearing the commotion questioned an excited Dan outside the house. "What is going on in there? People seem excited. Just this morning I learned that Tabitha was dead. Is this a new way of mourning?"

"Tabitha is not dead. She's alive!" Dan shouted excitedly. I travelled with Machir to get Peter. He prayed for her. Now she is alive...it's a miracle!"

"Wow! Tabitha is alive... Indeed you reap what you sow. All that love she shared, no one was prepared to let her die and be buried."
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This article has been read 408 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
05/10/19
Interesting take on the Biblical story. Your title gave away what it was about.
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
05/10/19
So much good here - good word pictures, good storytelling. Good movement in the story. I'm sure you see the spelling and punctuation mistakes (host's instead of hosts - had me confused for a brief moment LOL) My red ink is you left the topic a bit too late to be woven into the story - how you did initially is wonderful! The same idea could have been applied earlier to Peter's life - to the host's house (sowing hospitality...) And - maybe we're related - LOL but the end was rushed (I understand!) and using the topic as the conclusion doesn't really work.
But you hooked me right at the beginning and kept me to the end. Blessings
Gloria Pierre Dean
05/12/19
A creative description with realism. Here are some gramatical heads up. Consider stricter editing of your writing. I hope these comments help. Keep writing!


He could tell from their faces that they{were - missing verb} unwilling to reveal the urgent request before his host



Upon arrival Peter was led to the upper chamber. Tabitha lay dead on the bed. The widows {who - not needed} she had helped wept and wailed as they showed Peter the clothes that she had made.

They tagged {should be tugged} at his robe questioning now {should be -- -how} a person this generous could be taken from them.
Lollie Hofer 
05/14/19
Minus a few grammar errors and maybe light on the topic, your writing skills are strong. You are quite capable of putting together an interesting and enjoyable story. Your words have clarity and I can see it taking place as I read. (Not to mention, I love creative biblical story-telling.) Keep writing.