Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BEACH (09/01/22)
-
TITLE: PRAYER CLOTH | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wendi Harrington
09/08/22 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
There it was. The most precious picture in the world, tucked protectively into the ID slot. She slid her thumb across the window, lingering on Luke’s face a moment. Remembering. The background was a colorful beach scene, sun kissing the water behind them, palm tree standing chaperone. The picture came from one of those photo booths in the mall. She had never been to the beach in real life. But often in her dreams and daydreams, she stood barefoot in the sand in a beautiful white dress, veil flowing like angel wings behind her, smiling cheek-to-cheek with Luke. More than anything in the world, she wanted that to become a reality.
She sighed. Her throat was raw from the service. Residual tears still burned in the corners of her eyes. It was funny, she thought, how when she was thirteen years old—the year this picture was taken—that her parents had driven from Norman to Tulsa to take her to PEAK. The next year, too, when she was fourteen. But now that they actually lived in Tulsa, she wasn’t allowed to go. What she wouldn’t give to go, just one night. But her dad would have none of that.
Her friends had returned with plenty of stories about the experience to regale her with. Several of them offered updates on Luke without solicitation from Serenity. A couple of them even knew how she felt about him, but most didn’t. It had become too hard a truth to share when two years had slipped away from them.
The salty pools in her eyes grew, but did not overflow. Not yet. She slipped the small white cloth from behind the photo and dropped it into her purse. She took the new white cloth, folding and smoothing reverently. Wishing with all her heart, God would hear her prayer and answer.
“What are you doing?” Her mom peered at her from behind the steering wheel.
“Prayer cloth.” Serenity barely heard herself. She offered her mom a bit of a shrug. “The other one was from Brother Gaines. This one was anointed and prayed over by Brother Gaines, and Brother Shepard. Brother Jones, and Stevens, and even Brother Kaur. So . . .”
Her mom reached over, laying a firm hand on her leg. “It’s the same God, baby.” Serenity felt a warm peace fill the car. Her mom smiled at her with shining eyes that understood. “The specific preacher doesn’t matter. Or how many even.” Her mom squeezed her leg. “It’s the faith you have and the obedience to the Word of God that makes that cloth special.”
Serenity retrieved the first prayer cloth, folding it into the second, smoothing it gently. She slid them both, together (the way she prayed that she and Luke would end up), behind the picture and pulled the Velcro closed again. Holding the wallet in her hand, she repeated to herself, “It’s the same God. He knows my heart.”
**Scene taken from WITH ALL MY HEART, future novel.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.