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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Great (07/06/06)
Isn’t That Great?

I heard a story the other day. It went something like this:

Do you remember Mike and Millie? They had three sons and a daughter named Dina?

Haven’t heard about them in years. Whatever happened to them?

Well, it seems they weren’t as righteous as they appeared.

Why, whatever do you mean?

Their youngest son, Jared, was a drug addict and all that implies; he was a liar and a thief. I heard he died of a drug overdose; and him not married and with a four-month old son, too, at the time.

Then Millie took an overdose of sleeping pills, and tried to kill herself. Tsk-tsk. What a shame.

Dina got a divorce and her with a three-year old little girl; and them being Christians and all. Oh my!

Maybe we should pray for them.

Well, if you think it would do any good…Dina moved her and her daughter into the boyfriend’s house. And he’s a singer in a bluegrass band. Why, I’d be purely mortified if she was my daughter, wouldn’t you?

I still think we should pray for them, though.

Mike was so angry, he plain flat out wanted to murder that boyfriend, and said if he had a gun, he would! How can a Christian talk like that?

Turns out Dina wouldn’t let her little girl anywhere near her grandpa or her grandma, either. Near broke their hearts, poor things. This went on for years and all of them just quit going to church. They just went on a major downhill backslide.

They should’ve stayed in the church and got counseling or something. Then we all could’ve prayed for them then.

At least the two other sons seemed to do okay. They just got on with raising their families and stayed well away from it. Didn’t want to be any part of it. Especially being caught in the middle with their sister on one side and their dad wanting them to take sides.

Can’t say I blame them much. But it seems it soured them on the church, though.
Haven’t seen them since they were in their teens. I thought the family was still ministering in Botswana.

No, no, that was over ages ago.

Dina went through a breakdown, left her boyfriend, changed her last name and tried to start life all over again.

Millie left Mike and moved in with Dina. Oh my, what a crazy world we live in, huh? Mike was left all alone in another state, hardly in touch with family at all. Retired early and pretty much became a recluse, living his own life.

I guess Dina and Millie were emotional wrecks and not much there spiritually any more. I think they blamed God.

Wish I’d known. I could’ve been praying for them.

Such a lot of anger, bitterness, hatred and resentment on all sides.

So, what is it you called to tell me, Carla?

Mike and Dina reconciled, and the whole family is close again! Mind you, it didn’t happen overnight.

Tell me what, will you; get to the miracle part!

There’s been a genuine miracle right before my eyes! Something I never thought I’d see in a million years! I swear, somebody, somewhere, must’ve been praying all along.

I think somewhere along the way, God must’ve finally got through to their stubborn hearts. I mean, you wouldn’t believe how close they are now. They’ve actually forgiven each other and their love is strong again. It’s a beautiful sight to see! They even look younger, healthier and happier since they’ve surrendered their lives back to the Lord.

Wow, that is a miracle! Isn’t that great?

P.S. Great is when you see the miracle of answered prayer, even if it did take an agonizing six long years to come to fruition. I lived the role of Millie in this story. Never would I have believed our normal Christian family could have experienced such utter devastation. There is no logical reason why any of us should be close again. It truly is a miracle. Isn’t that great?
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This article has been read 746 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Carol Shaffron
07/15/06
What awesome and creative story telling. And what an amazing miracle! Our God sure is GREAT! not to mention good, too.
Jan Ackerson
07/17/06
The story was wonderful, and I was sure that there'd be a tag at the end, telling us that it was true--and there was! Marvelous! I'm not sure if the structure worked as well as it might have--you seem to have a dialog, but the speakers are unclear, since they are not named, nor set aside by quotation marks, nor given any action. Something to consider, if you re-visit this...
Lynda Schultz 
07/18/06
Yes it is great - and even greater because it sounds from the story that some people were too busy gossiping and not busy enough praying about the situation. God is good! Well done.