Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: GRACE (02/12/26)
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TITLE: More Than Rubies | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wilma Schlegel
02/19/26 -
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“Dad,” Sarah looked sadly at her father, placing her hand on his arm, but no more words came. She didn’t know what to say, how to finish.
He gave her a sad smile.
Samuel looked at all the greeting cards displayed around the room. Gently, he took one of his mom’s hands. “Mom, did anyone read any of these cards to you?” he asked, not expecting an answer.
Sarah said, “I think she’d like that."
“I think that’s a great idea, son, thank you,” Dad said.
“OK then, let’s see, here’s one from Jeanette in the choir. She says, ‘Thank you my dear friend, for all the fun and for helping me to believe and for teaching me the freedom of holding no grudges. You saved my marriage. God bless you.'”
“Here’s one from Janine, I guess she was one of your students, Mom. 'Dear Mrs. Johns, Thank you, for all the times you listened to me. Thank you too for all the hugs you gave when no one else ever hugged me. That helped me more than you know.’”
“This one is from Bobbie Martin, “she taught with you Mom, didn’t she?”
Mom gave the slightest smile.
“She says, ‘Thank you my cohort, for showing me why the students loved you more than me even when you graded as tough as I did. You were always there for them…and for me.’”
“Here’s a really long one. It’s from Lila Owens. She says, ‘My deepest gratitude to you. I’ll never forget all you taught us in Sunday school about how much Jesus loves us. You told us how He stands at the door and knocks. He waits patiently to be invited inside. Anyone, it doesn’t matter how bad they’ve been, anyone who invites Him in, He’ll sup with them. But not just that, He’ll forgive them everything and stay with them forever and all they have to do is to truly be sorry. Nobody deserves that kind of gift, but that’s what He wants to give.’”
“She says more,” Samuel read on, "‘You told us that there’s a painting of Jesus standing at the door and that in the painting there’s no doorknob on Jesus’s side of the door. He can’t open it. We need to open the door. That meant so much to me that I saved my allowance for weeks to buy a copy of that painting to put in our Sunday school room. I gave the money to you because I didn’t know where to get the picture. You received it like it was an amazing gift but I bet those coins weren’t enough to cover the cost. Somehow that picture got bought and hung in our classroom. I know it’s not right to be prideful, you taught us that, but it felt so good to feel like I did something good and maybe even important. Thank you forever. I love you.’”
Tears were rolling down the cheeks of each of them in the room now.
Sarah held her mom's hand to her forehead and wept.
Sam said, “Mom, we love you, so much.”
Dad had his head next to his wife’s, their hands intertwined.
Miraculously, Mrs. Johns found strength to whisper, “Thank you, I love you. That was… so beautiful. Please continue...to love God… and each other.” She smiled then. “Look! He’s here now! I love you…and…I’ll see you again!”
The smile stayed on her lips.
Tears came in heaves. When all were cried out, Sam took in a long, ragged breath. “She was such a blessing.”
“To us all,” Sarah agreed.
Dad clutched her hand. “Oh, my dear,” his words shook. “You are worth more than rubies. Many women do noble things, but you, my wife Grace, surpass them all. If ever there was a Proverbs 31 woman, you are her. Thank you, Lord, for grace upon grace.”
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