Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Justified (02/26/26)
-
TITLE: Poor | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Janson
03/04/26 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
When Greg was sixteen, his parents allowed him to take a job off the family farm. But only if he finished all of his chores first, and only if half of the money he earned was put into the jar on the kitchen counter to help with the family expenses. Greg found a job at a parishioner’s gas station, and soon began to work most evenings earning $1/hour filling gas tanks and washing windshields.
The owner of the gas station, Gus, was a fair man and saw that Greg was a hard worker. When the station was slow, he allowed Greg to do his school work; he even encouraged it. The relationship grew and Gus soon became like surrogate father figure to Greg.
Shortly after the start of his employment, Greg showed up to work with a black eye. When Gus questioned its cause, Greg mumbled that it was “no big deal” and quickly went to work. But when he came to the station a couple weeks later with his arm in a sling, and attributed it to a fall, Gus became suspicious. Despite the Carmody’s “good standing” in their community, he had occasionally heard of (and even witnessed) the wrath of Greg’s father.
Over time, Gus discovered that Greg was not only a hard worker, but that he was very smart. Eventually, he approached Greg about college. Greg acknowledged that this was indeed a dream of his, but that his family didn’t have the money, nor would his father allow such frivolousness.
Gus eventually convinced Greg to complete an application, offering to request a scholarship with the Jesuits he knew on Greg’s behalf. All of this transpired without the knowledge of Greg’s family. There was no point in getting his father upset over something that was probably not going to happen.
But it did happen. Greg’s application was approved as was his scholarship. Gus was beyond excited when the acceptance letters arrived, but he could read the apprehension on Greg’s face.
”You’re afraid to discuss this with your father, aren’t you?” Gus asked.
”Yes,” was all Greg said.
The next time Greg came to work, he had not one, but two black eyes and a swollen mouth. Gus really didn’t want to interfere, but he felt his concern (and anger) was more than justified. He took the situation to the church leaders, and they agreed to approach Mr. and Mrs. Carmody.
The intervention led to much yelling and many tears, but eventually got to the core of the matter. Mr. Carmody loved his son, but he was afraid to lose the income Greg brought to the family and he didn’t see the value in a college education. Not to mention, it became clear that drinking was often a precursor to his anger being taken out on his oldest child.
The elders of the church knew of a rehabilitation facility for alcoholism and offered to pay for this. They also agreed to help out on the farm a bit to offset Greg being away at school. Mr. Carmody’s wife begged him to take this “deal”. She knew her husband’s drinking had become a problem, and she recognized the God given gifts of her oldest son.
Gus helped Greg enroll in the Jesuit college for the following Fall, and continued to allow him to do his school work when the gas station was slow. Even more importantly, he walked Greg through the process of forgiving his father.
Four years later, Greg graduated from college. The pride that his now recovered father felt was immense. Father and son now had a very different, much healthier, relationship. As well as much more income!
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.
