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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Actions Speak Louder than Words" (without using the actual phrase). (02/21/08)
Saline Solution

Do you remember the time when tears rolled down my face, because you were leaving me to serve our country?

I remember the touch of your fingers across my cheek when a silent half-smile was all you had to give me. I knew your heart. As I lay my head upon your chest I memorized its tone; the unmistakable sound beckoned to me for months until I saw you once again.

Do you remember when I accepted the well-worn ring on our wedding day?

It was your grandmother’s engagement ring. She had never married do to the untimely death of her fiancée. She wore that ring for years until she heard of your love for me. She then put it into your young hand, closed your fist with her fingers, and said, “May your love ever be without end.” I took a tear from your cheek upon my fingertip, and mingled it with one of my own and asked, “May our love be thus inseparable.” You agreed.

Do you remember when our first-born child was due?

Your frantic pacing when my water broke, and then the prayers of your lips without audible words, they were always precious to me, because I saw your concern. Your face etched illumines with a helpless desire of care. I will never forget it.

Do you remember when that same child was lost in the city on her third birthday?

Your job, your ministry, and your life all became, at best, second to the intensity of your first choice to find her. Money was no object; anyone could tell that you were a Christian, because you prayed without ceasing… OUT LOUD, and your personal life would have been gladly traded for a clue of her safety to be made known to us. God honored your prayers.

Do you remember when I was discovered I had cancer?

You begged the doctor to take your kidney, and to replace yours with mine. This too was whom I married. A selfless man that cared not for his own, but laid his life on the line as if it meant nothing at all, and now…

Where is this man?

I cannot bear to see you on your deathbed. How can I live without you? What will become of us when you are gone? Who will care for us…? Selah.

You have taught us well.

Christ in you is Christ in us, and He will not allow your life to go without promise. We will always be together as one in faith and courage. You represented Him well, so we might see love for what it truly is. We will meet again.

I will always remember.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New King James Version)
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This article has been read 812 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sylvia Hensel 
02/28/08
Such a beautiful, beautiful story. A real tear jerker. Well written, this definitely could be the winner.
Beth LaBuff 
02/28/08
Your letter and tribute is beautiful and your entry very touching. This is well-titled and creative. I like your interspersed questions between paragraphs that set the tone for what follows. Your use of “Selah,“ a term from the Psalms, is effective. You’ve captured the love between this husband and wife and you've added the hope that Christians have. Very good writing with this.

Seema Bagai 
02/29/08
Emotion is infused into every line of this story. I was a bit confused about the grandmother not marrying. Did she have a child out of wedlock then? Otherwise the grandchild would not exist, right?. A poignant and touching piece.
Dolores Stohler 
02/29/08
Beautifully written, so tender, so sad. Wonderful emotion.
Julie Arduini
03/02/08
This got my attention because this piece flows with showing while telling, and it is so moving and effective. Excellent work!
Betty Overstreet
03/03/08
What a wonderful story. What a wonderful love story. I would love to have you share your love story with my many readers in the book I am currently working on: The Lord still speaks...to Lovers. A compilation of Christian love stories. Keep on writing, you do it so well!
Betty Overstreet
c clemons
03/03/08
Truly a very nice love story, but several glaring mistakes or typos, like "married do to" should be due, or "when I was discovered"... maybe, when it was discovered I had cancer. A little more punctuation for flow and content editing this would be very good.
Leigh MacKelvey
03/03/08
Lovely, lovely, lovely ... and not dark at all! I agree that you should seek a "buddy" to proofread your work. That will help with the typos and the spelling. If you can get that cleaned uo, you will have a wonderful story to submit for whoever the Lord leads it to.
Debbie Wistrom
03/03/08
Wonderful testimony, thanks for sharing!
Jan Ackerson
03/04/08
I echo the sentiments above--this is outstanding! And I'll add that I love the title!
Jan Ackerson
03/04/08
I echo the sentiments above--this is outstanding! And I'll add that I love the title!
Catrina Bradley
03/04/08
Love this - what a blessing you've written. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Betty Castleberry
03/04/08
Lovely sentiment, and such deep feeling in this piece. This was a very good read, and one I will remember.
Tessy Fuller
03/05/08
I almost felt guilty for reading this love letter because of the emotion wrapped in each line. I really liked the line that read "As I lay my head upon your chest I memorized its tone" That really spoke of the tenderness between them.