Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HOT (08/10/17)
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TITLE: ALL THINGS | Previous Challenge Entry
By David Story
08/15/17 -
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Cry. That would be good. Just lean your head against the steering wheel and have a good cry.
She deserved it, didn’t she? After all, he’d only been gone for six months. Even now she could see the smile on his face as he looked at her for the last time. She was thankful for that. To be able to hold his hand in that final hour. To be able to tell him how much she loved him.
And then those words came back to her. The final words whispered as he faded away, out of her life forever.
“All things.”
And then he was gone.
It had been their mantra for years. All things. Ha. He always wrote it in upper case. With an exclamation mark. ALL THINGS! The translation: “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.” And He did strengthen her. He did give her what she needed for such a difficult time.
But still. Why now? Why today?
“Why not today?”
She jumped out of her seat and hit her head on the top of the car. A man wearing a hat was sitting in the back seat. Slowly she began to reach for the mace in her purse. But then …
“No need for that.” He smiled at her and her soul almost melted.
“My name’s Max, by the way.” He took off his hat. “Man, I feel like I haven’t been around in a while. It really feels good to be back.”
“Who,” she stammered, “who.”
“Yeah,” Max laughed. “I get that a lot.” He smiled at her again. “Don’t worry so much about who I am, okay?”
“O … kay.” Beth could barely get any words out before the stranger suddenly appeared in the front seat. Beth jumped again.
“Sorry,” Max said. “I’m not usually one for theatrics, but like I said, it’s been awhile.”
Her husband was gone. Her car had overheated. And some crazy man was in her car with her. Even with all of that, Beth felt strangely at peace.
“Yeah. I get that a lot, too.”
Could her read her mind? Did he know her every thought?
“Again, don’t worry about all of that, okay?”
He gazed out at the hood of the car. “Cars are funny, aren’t they? One-minute everything’s fine, and the next. Boom! Smoke pouring out from under the hood.” Max laughed. “Kind of like people, don’t you think?”
Beth nodded.
Max continued. “Beth. What did Tom mean when he said those two words to you?”
She turned and stared at Max, and the tears began. “That I can do all things through Christ.”
Max scooted over a bit closer. “He was telling you that everything was going to be okay. Pardon the pun, but when life gets “overheated” there’s One who will take care of you. You have a Father in Heaven who loves you, Beth. And He will never leave you nor forsake you. Don’t forget that, Beth. No matter what happens, don’t forget. It’s a simple message, a wonderful truth, that people somehow can’t completely grasp.”
This time is was Max who hung his head, as if praying for all of those who needed to hear this simple message.
Beth’s tears were really beginning to flow now.
“Beth.”
She looked up.
“God loves you.”
This time the smile was on her face.
“No matter the storm. He’ll always see you through.”
Max opened the door to leave. “Oh, and don’t forget, you will see Tom again one day.” He laughed again. “Believe me, I have firsthand knowledge about such things.”
And he was gone.
A peace like she’d never known, one that surpassed all understanding, filled her heart, and a silent prayer of thanks was given.
And then, without Beth doing a thing, her overheated car came to life. She watched the gauge as it went down to its normal setting. Sitting there for a moment, just staring at the gauge, she finally put the car in gear and went on her way.
And as she did so, she could have sworn she heard Max’s voice … singing an old and familiar hymn. “My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine.” Once more, she smiled. And she thought of the ALL THINGS that she could do. Now and forevermore.
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