Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SNOOZE (07/20/17)
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TITLE: The Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By LeslieJean Anderson
07/27/17 -
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“Two million. It’s all in my checking account,” said Janet, twisting a white handkerchief in her hand.
“Well,” he said as he leaned back in his chair. “You won’t ever have to worry about money again. That should be a relief. Any debts?”
“Well, there’s the house, but it’s almost paid off. Same thing with the car, although it’s not very reliable. I’ve been thinking about replacing it.”
“Well, if you do, pay for it in cash. You don’t need to pay interest anymore. Dependents?”
“Not anymore.”
“Well, Janet, it looks like it’s all yours, after taxes. Here’s a booklet spelling out your options for investment. You could actually live off the interest. Read it, and let’s meet again in two weeks, ok?”
Janet looked at him solemnly, tears welling up in her eyes again.
“Cheer up, Janet. Bill would want you to spend some of it on yourself, or he would not have left you so much. You can go on vacation. Take your grandchildren on a cruise. Go shopping at Macy’s. Buy a pretty puppy to keep you company. Money is a resource. You can do good things with it.”
So Janet tried. She bought presents for people. She started contributing to local organizations. She bought a reliable new car, and took road trips to see relatives. She began to take better care of herself, something Bill had always encouraged her to do. “It’s ok to love yourself too,” he’d often say.
Soon she discovered that she enjoyed making people happy with her generosity. And she did buy a pretty puppy, who became her constant companion. She named him Willy.
“So this is how it feels to have real financial freedom,” she whispered to herself one day as she finished paying a stack of bills, including a few for her daughter who was a struggling single mother. She thought back on her formerly modest income. During her life with Bill, every dollar was stretched. Gifts were few. Travel rare. Worries over the bills constant, but they’d found happiness in each other and in God. Their needs were met and they’d been content.
But one Sunday she heard a powerful sermon about the rich young ruler who had been asked by Christ to sell all his possessions and follow Him. The ruler had chosen his riches instead. Janet came home from church visibly upset.
She’d always loved the Lord. She and Bill had met in church. They’d taught their children and grandchildren to love God. Would God expect her to give up her new financial security to follow Him during her sunset years?
Janet lost sleep over this dilemma. One afternoon she sat on the sofa with Willy on her lap, praying about it. “Please, God – You know that I love You. I have followed You since childhood. Please give me a sign that its ok for me to use the money. It’s not more important than You, but it feels like a gift from Bill.”
Exhausted from several days of concern, Janet’s head fell back against the sofa pillows. Suddenly the side of the house dissolved and she could see out into the garden. She gasped. A glowing shaft of light began entering the room. She stood up, and peered into the light. Willy began whimpering.
Then she saw them. Both of them. Jesus - and in the distance behind Him was Bill. They both reached out to her, and she ran to them. As she did so, they all began to ascend. Janet’s eyes were on Jesus, and she could sense the house and the garden falling away behind her. Janet thought about Willy. Suddenly they stopped in mid-air.
Jesus smiled. “You are worried about leaving something behind, Janet. What is it?”
“My doggie, Lord. I love him. Who will take care of him?”
“Look behind you, daughter.”
When she did, she saw Willy floating up too, tail wagging.
“You shall have every living thing you have ever loved,” said Jesus. “That is your treasure in Heaven.”
Janet’s eyes popped open to see Willy still on her lap. She rubbed her eyes and looked around. “That was some dream,” she muttered to herself. Willy stirred and stretched.
The phone rang. It was Janet’s daughter. She was in tears. Her car needed repairs again.
Janet reassured her. “Don’t worry, Dear. I’ll help you with the payments. It will be ok. I love you too.”
749 words This is a work of fiction.
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