Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: HEALTH (10/13/16)
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TITLE: The Healing Power of God | Previous Challenge Entry
By JC Hummel
10/20/16 -
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“Are you going to the football game tonight?” she called from the living room.
He rolled his eyes, “No, Mom."
“I’ll be okay on my own for a while. Alice is right next door if I need anything.”
He came back into the living room with a glass of water for her, “I’m a little tired. Anyway, I have a lot of homework to do.”
“Tom, I’m worried about you. All you do is work, go to school and take care of me. You’ve been a great support since the accident, but you need to be teenager, and start going out with your friends again.”
He didn't want to talk about it, and left the room telling his mother he needed to go and change out of his work clothes.
The accident was the hit and run that killed his dad and younger brother Danny and left his mother critically injured. On a hot, muggy Fourth of July evening as Tom and his family headed back to their car after the fireworks display, a drunk driver ran a stop sign and plowed into them. Tom’s only injury was a broken arm. He was the lucky one, or so everyone told him. He didn't feel very lucky.
He flung himself on his bed and looked up at the glow-in-the dark stars stuck to the ceiling of the room he had shared with Danny. He thought about one of their last conversations.
“Tom, sometimes I look up at our plastic stars and pretend that I am outside,” his eight-year-old voice chirped in the darkness, “have you ever done that?”
He smiled, “No, Danny.”
“Maybe Dad will take us camping one day. I would love to sleep out under the real stars.”
“Me too, now go to sleep.”
Tears stung in his eyes and he clenched his jaw telling myself not to cry. He sat up and put his head in his hands, “God, send me a sign, show me how to get through this.”
He realized it was already dinner time and he quickly changed his clothes. He abruptly stopped at the bedroom door and stood tall making sure he looked composed before going back into the living room.
“Mom, I’ll get a start on dinner.”
“You don’t have to, your friend Jenny’s dad, just called to say they are having a barbecue before the football game and we're invited. I told him we’d be right over.”
He didn't want to go out or talk to anyone. He was tired of people wearing sorrowful expressions while telling him they were sorry for his loss and asking him how he and his mother were doing. He knew they meant well, but at times he wanted to yell at them and say: How do you think we’re doing?! My father is dead, my brother is dead. My mother is injured and cries all the time.
"Tom, you’re cutting yourself off from everyone. We’re both hurting, and we need each other but we need other people, too."
“I don’t want to go.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t.”
“I know we both still need time to heal, but I’m not sure you are getting better.”
“Mom, let it go.” Tears welled up in his eyes, “I’ve asked God for help, but he doesn't hear me.”
She put her arms around him. "Maybe you need to accept the love and compassion from your friends. Give God the opportunity to work through them and help you.”
He sat silent for a moment and wiped his tears. He knew his mother was right.
“Okay Mom. Let's go.”
“I’ll grab my coat.”
“Mom, maybe when we get home later, we can sit out on the patio for a while and look at the stars.”
“Yes, I would like that.”
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Thank you for sharing your entry. One of my favorites.