Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: MAIL (02/18/16)
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TITLE: It's all in the Mail | Previous Challenge Entry
By Hugh Houchin
02/25/16 -
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Before a rare and fast moving cancer ended their 46 year love-affair, every morning he’d go to their post office to get their mail.
Only the proverbial hop, skip, and a jump away, the post office trip didn’t take long. When he returned, though, he’d always find their three best friends around the table. Then, the five of them discussed every dot and stroke of that day’s mail.
Sometimes they’d chuckle about someone, or something, they’d read; sometimes, something they read brought tears to their eyes.
Their small talk centered on those letters that brought to mind a big ol’ cuddly teddy bear. One that let them cry, and bellow, at the beast they knew would soon separate them, for awhile.
Bill memorized lines from those letters, and after Dotty died he’d sit at their table and recite them.
As he reminisced, he sipped his favorite piping hot Columbian coffee from the mug Dotty bought him at a quaint souvenir shop in old Mexico.
One day, about four years after she died, he read a letter that told about elderly people who, in a church setting, would counsel church members during their times of need. He talked to the big ol’ cuddly teddy bear, and he knew he heard it roar, “Go for it.”
After Bill talked about the letter with his pastor, and the board, he said he’d like to pursue the idea. They agreed and prayed for God’s guidance.
Bill knew God had big plans for that ministry.
The next Sunday, from the pulpit, Pastor Light announced Bill’s plans for counselors to serve the congregation.
At the introductory meeting 6 other retirees attended, two couples, a widow, and a divorcee. They scheduled a prayer meeting for the next week, followed by 5 weekly training sessions.
Bill and the divorcee, Gertie, were natural and gifted leaders, and the rest of the group marched in harmony with them.
At first, Bill and Gertie were only conscious of providing the church with a cohesive group of counselors, and they didn’t realize how their personalities interlocked. But, as they counseled together, as one, each rediscovered past hurts they’d camouflaged inside an aura of non-existence.
However, neither mentioned the subject to the other.
One Saturday morning Bill laid down his mail and put his favorite cup on their table. He asked the big ol’ cuddly teddy bear, “You sure it’s ok?” The big ol’ cuddly teddy bear remained silent. “Well,” Bill said, “silence is consent.”
He picked up his cell and pushed the number 2.
“Hello Bill.”
“Be over in 20 minutes, will you be ready?”
“Ya, sure.”
“Got some things to show you,”
“Ok.”
“See you in a few,” Bill said and pushed the End button.
Later, at his house, he said “Gertie, its time I introduced you to others in my life.”
“I’d like that,” she giggled.
He told her it was time to go to his post office, and took her hand as he walked into the den.
“This was Dotty’s and my personal post office, and every morning I’d come in here to get our mail,” he said taking a Bible off the shelf. “The Bible is a letter God sent to us, and inside the front cover of this one is a schedule to read, in a year, all the letters He sent us.
Back in the kitchen, he pointed to three of the chairs around the table. “These were for three guests who visited each morning, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They helped us understand what the mail said. Together, we read through the Bible every one of the 46 years we were married.”
“Wow,” Gertie said. “Wow.
“There’s more,” Bill went on. “After we found out about the cancer, we saw God as a bigger than life ol’ cuddly teddy bear who understood us and was there for us. Through him we vented our feelings with no fear of rejection.
“That’s beautiful,” Gertie sniffed as a single tear slid down her cheek.
Gently, Bill wiped it off.
“Everything, Gertie, the post office, God’s letters, the three guests, the big ol’ cuddly bear, are still part of my life. Would you, as my wife, share them with me every morning?”
“I’d like that,” she giggled.
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