Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Hope (05/04/06)
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TITLE: The last hope | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ashley J P
05/08/06 -
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She was just 35 but looked a lot older. The recent years had been very unkind to her and now she just waited for death to take her. Dark circles closed around eyes that had sparkled with pride not long ago. A delightfully structured face, long the envy of many and the pride of her husband had long since peeled under the tons of worries and sadness. As her tired body fell on the creaky bed, tears filled her eyes, creating the only imagery of life in that forsaken room in that dilapidated part of the town.
How fortunes change! It was not long ago that she had a great house with servants, a beautiful daughter and a doting husband. They had all they ever desired, but her husband had played wrong and one day all things came crashing down. It was all so sudden that she could not even salvage anything. And then her nerves failed when one morning she saw the torn body of her husband and daughter on the road. All knew it was revenge but she could not be consoled. Debtors greatly troubled her until she gave up everything including her lovely hair, but still they demanded more. And now this! The doctor had told her clearly that if she did not find some money, he would not be able to give her the medicines she needed badly just to stay calm in this bursting tide of disaster.
It was the bell, that finally caught her attention. She knew what it was and where it came from, but she abhorred it. God! He had failed her, He was the one most responsible for her situation and after all this, He still found pleasure in letting her suffer. God! He was the last thing she wanted in this bitter life. She really could not explain why the same winter evening, her legs led her to the chapel in the convent. Standing outside in the light drizzle, she stood silently staring with vacant eyes at the cross. Then tears poured out and her heart felt like bursting and she fell on the cold hard ground. Words passed in-between her throbs “Lord, my Jesus, have mercy!”
Then she got up in the darkness, but there was a strong glow in her eyes. She was not alone. She had God with her. She remembered the words of Isaiah 41:10a “Fear not, I am with you always” and repeating them in her heart, she strode with purpose. She no longer looked downcast but she had a certain demeanor that projected a faith, a faith that gave hope, hope of a new life to come.
It was hard, very hard but she kept going. She did not have answers to many questions, but she knew she was in God’s hands. Praying continuously and talking often to her Lord, she did things humanly called impossible. She struggled but thrived.
40 years later as she lay on her deathbed with a vast fortune, put carefully in a trust to be used to help people, suffering people, she smiled. Her message even in that last hour was simple, “Trust in the Lord, He will never fail”.
The newspapers the next day announced with sadness, “Madam Hope had passed away, but she has left behind hope for many, a hope that shines brightly from the cross of Calvary”.
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