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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Pigs Might Fly (10/31/13)
After calling to tell me the latest antics of her youngest--my grandson, Baby Jake--it wasn’t long before my daughter was again listing off the things she was never going to do:

"I'm NEVER going to allow Jake to play with my cell phone like my neighbor, Jenny, allows her son. She says she has games on it that are educational for toddlers, and that little Billy can learn so much from them. --But I think Jenny is cutting the life of her cell in half with Billy’s baby spit, while addicting him early to technology. Oh, and the crazy T-shirts she puts on him! I would never dress Jake in a T-shirt that says, 'My Grandma is a Push-Over'--how demeaning!"

"Well, honey," I sighed, "everyone has their own ideas about raising children. I suppose Jenny wouldn’t totally agree with how you're raising Jake, either. --You know how it bothers me when you say you’ll 'never' do this or that. God often has a way of turning your 'I'll never' to 'Oh, yes you will!'"

"Right, Mom," Casey said with sarcasm, "like you’re ALWAYS saying, 'never say never.' --And as usual, you're taking the side of someone you don’t even know, instead of taking your own daughter’s side!"

I shook my head. This conversation was going nowhere. "Honey, I'm not trying to take anyone's side. I was just trying to be fair to Jenny, who isn’t here to defend herself..."

"Well, Mom, let’s just drop the subject, OK? --CeCe and Xander are both over their colds and doing great--hey, kids, come here and say 'hi' to your Grandma."

"Hi, Gramma!" chimed two childish voices over my phone. Then Xander yelled, "Gotta go, Gramma! Gotta finish my lego man!" I heard CeCe squeal and then the sound of both children running across the kitchen tiles.

"They sound great, Casey. I'm glad they're feeling better. Ummmm, Casey?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"I hate to bring this up right now, but I was wondering if you and Peter and the kids could come to our house for Thanksgiving. Your brother is going to be home from college and we’re going to have all the traditional things for dinner: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes..."

Casey broke in, her voice sounding flat. "Is Dad going to be there?"

"Of course he's going to be there. He lives here!" I said.

"You know that I will only come for a visit if Dad's not home, Mom. I will never forgive him for the things he said to me and Peter before we got married last year. You already know that, Mom. --And I mean it! I will NEVER forgive him. Pigs might fly, and elephants shrink to the size of gnats before I would ever see him again!"

"But, Casey, your Dad has tried so many times to tell you how sorry he is. He’s written you letters and tried to call. He reached Peter by phone at work awhile back and apologized to him. Did Peter tell you that he accepted your Dad’s apology and forgave him? Why can’t you do the same, Casey? Please talk to him! Please forgive him! It’s just killing your Dad having this wall of unforgiveness between the two of you. Your Dad wants to see his grandbabies so bad..."

"Well, he should have thought about that before he opened his big mouth! I repeat, I will NEVER see him! I will NEVER talk to him! I will NEVER forgive him! --And don’t even think about asking us to come for Christmas. We will do just fine having our own Christmas at home from now on..."

"Listen to what you are saying, Casey! In addition to your father, you are punishing Peter, Xander, CeCe, and Jake, along with your brother and me for something that was an error in judgment on your Father’s part--a slip of the tongue. Worst of all, Casey, you’re punishing yourself. Your father wants to make things right so we can all be a family again. Please let him, Casey!"

"No, Mom! Now I’m going to hang up... I have things to do..."

"Alright, Casey, but Dad and I--and our whole church--will be praying for you and your family... and I promise you that we will all be praying long and praying hard. Remember, Casey, God often has a way of turning your 'I’ll never' to 'Oh, yes you will!'--especially when faith-filled people are praying without ceasing."


(Fiction)
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Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
11/08/13
She wasn't a very good Christian toward her father the young MC. This story was well written and had a "realistic ending" -- and it leaves it the reader as to what happens next. I'd like to believe that with prayer a spirit of forgiveness comes over the daughter.

Good job.

God Bless~
Larry Whittington
11/13/13
A story with our own ending. We can have forgiveness take place and all is well or the never of forgiveness taken and her destiny is determined.

This is a good reminder for each of us that no matter what happens God does not forgive us if we don't forgive others.

Well written, full of emotion that pulls.

Thank you for the reminder that, no matter what, we have to forgive to be forgiven.