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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Art (01/18/07)
Kadee sat in her studio staring at a blank canvas. She yearned to paint. Picking up the paint brush the memories of her lost husband flooded her mind.

“You’re so beautiful.” He would say. Always the charmer, he stole her heart after just a few dates. Sure, there were some red flags along the way, but she could over look them. He was jealous. She always brushed it off. When he asked her to marry him she didn’t hesitate. They discussed the roles they would play in the marriage. He would work and she would always have dinner on the table when he got home and the house would be neat and tidy, the laundry always done. She wondered when she would have time to paint but never brought it up.

As time went on she got into a routine. She woke up. She cooked breakfast and did the dishes. She did the laundry. She cleaned the house from top to bottom. She cooked dinner. She did the dishes.. She went to bed. She worked hard to ensure that Gary always had what he needed. He complained about everything. Nothing was ever right and the jealousy just got worse by the week.

After two years of marriage, Kadee got pregnant. Expecting the worst from Gary, she kept her secret until it couldn’t be hidden anymore. “Gary?” she’d said one night while rubbing his shoulders. “I need to tell you something.” she waited a moment but when he didn’t reply she continued. “We’re going to have a baby.” Like lightening he stood up and faced her.

“No babies.”This was followed by the sound of stomping feet and a slamming door. Kadee cried herself to sleep and when she awoke Gary was missing. Unable to fathom the idea of abortion she prayed, What am I supposed to do? She went about her normal routine shuddering every time she thought of Gary. At dinner time Gary showed up bearing flowers. “I’m sorry, Kadee. I shouldn’t have stormed out like that. Any baby of yours will be lovely I’m sure. Are we having a girl or a boy?” This was quickly followed by a hug and tender kiss. Kadee was sure that he would be a wonderful daddy.

However, he was not a wonderful daddy. Elizabeth hardly knew him. At eighteen months old, she had never felt her daddy’s arms around her. He never even spoke to his daughter. Kadee contemplated leaving but knew that was not the answer. She prayed daily for God to soften her husband’s heart. One day, Gary waltzed in announcing that she and “the brat” were not welcome in his house anymore. He followed the announcement by packing one suitcase for each of them and sitting them in the hallway. Unable to do anything else, Kadee took her daughter and left.

At her parents house she kept praying for her husband. Nothing is impossible with God right? She prayed constantly that God would soften his heart and that he would come back for her. Everyone told her she was crazy. “Forget about him. He’s a jerk and you deserve better.” they all said. But she knew that she was doing the right thing. She continued to pray until one day the phone rang. “Kadee, something wonderful has happened.” Gary sounded different. With a cautious heart she listened. “I wanted you to be the first to know, I gave my heart to Christ.” Tears sprung to her eyes as she listened. He explained that he had never really done that before and was sorry for everything that he had done to her. He desperately wanted a relationship with her and their daughter. Kadee questioned only for a moment whether to give him a chance. Feeling in her heart that he was sincere she moved back in with him and they had the best marriage. Two months later on his way home from work, he was in an accident that took his life. Kadee felt the loss of the marriage they could have had and wept for days. Finally, after two months of nonstop tears she knew what she needed to do: paint.

As Kadee’s memory faded she looked at the piece she had been working on. Where a blank canvas stood before now a glorious rainbow shone back at her. She scrawled her name on the bottom right corner and titled the piece The Promise as it reminded her of God’s promise to always take care of his people.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Miriam Fredericks
01/27/07
God's promise is SURE! The plot is weaved nwell between her musings and the blank canvas on which she expressed her hope.
Miriam Fredericks
01/27/07
God's promise is SURE! The plot is weaved nwell between her musings and the blank canvas on which she expressed her hope.
Miriam Fredericks
01/27/07
God's promise is SURE! The plot is weaved nwell between her musings and the blank canvas on which she expressed her hope.
Miriam Fredericks
01/27/07
God's promise is SURE! The plot is weaved well between her musings and the blank canvas on which she expressed her hope.
Miriam Fredericks
01/27/07
God's promise is SURE! The plot is weaved well between her musings and the blank canvas on which she expressed her hope.
Julie Arduini
01/28/07
A great story in faith, the ending was definitely a surprise. Well done!
Joanne Sher 
01/28/07
Great description, especially in the beginning of this. I wish you had spent a bit less time on the "bad" part of the marriage and a bit more on the "good" part - it almost felt like an afterthought. Wonderful detail - I was completely swept away. I doubt you will be in beginners long!
Donna Powers 
01/28/07
A sad story but a happy ending. God took her tragedy and made it into His promise of victorious living. You wrote from the heart and you did it well.
Joanney Uthe 
01/28/07
I like how Kadee was faithful to Gary even when he kicked her out and her friends were telling her to forget him. Great illustration of God's faithfulness to us.

I agree that it would have been nice to spend more time on the restored marriage. It is easy to dwell on the bad, but would make the mourning more realistic to focus on the restoration more than just one sentence.

Great technique tp have the canvas get painted while we were off learning Kadee's story. It shows the healing power of art. Great job!
Jan Ackerson 
01/29/07
A wonderful story of reconciliation. Work a bit on developing a style that is not so heavy on narration, and help your readers to get more inside your character's soul. Thanks for sharing this poignant tale.
Kathie Thomas
01/31/07
I loved this one - things that bring back memories.
Myrna Noyes
01/31/07
Well-told story with a good message about God's power working in response to our faith in Him and our prayers to Him. Thank you!