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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christmas Tree (10/09/08)
For them, it was the long-awaited day of adventure. For me, it was the advent of an opportunity to invest in little lives, and somehow it was even more than that. Lately, I had become obsessed with leaving a legacy. There was no particular reason for this obsession-just an ever-increasing awareness of what we all know to be true. Life is uncertain, and every minute of it must count. Funny, isn't it? How an event can be an adventure when you are four and a purely heady assignment when you are-well, older. Granted, in this world's vast array of exciting adventures, obsessions, and heady assignments, a small town carnival must register about a one on a scale of one to ten. Nevertheless, my grandsons and I were off to the carnival.
To say that it was a thunderbolt revelation would be untrue. But rather, in the midst of barking vendors, ear-splitting "music", cranky weary adults, chattering children, and all the other carnival clamor came more of a gentle, quiet stirring from the Lord. Somewhere between the fluffy pink clouds of cotton candy and the bouncing balls, it became a full-rown confirmation in my heart. Leaving a legacy of love is a worthy obsession. The desire to tell the next generation the really important things should motivate and drive us. Things like the absolute priority of knowing, loving, and serving the Lord. And, family and friends are priceless gifts and are to be cherished even when they aren't being so lovable. Hard work, the high cost of freedom, selfless living-an inventory so significant that it merits so much more than even pen coverage. Lots of wonderful things can happen in an afternoon-carnivals, picnics, snuggling in on a snowy day with a good book and a warming, delicious cup of hot cocoa, even putting up a Christmas tree as long-awaited and amazing as that might be. Though they contribute and are the stuff from which wonderful memories are made, fun afternoons don't make a legacy. It takes a lifetime of afternoons, those that are fun and those that aren't to create a legacy of love. The only way to leave it for all those who will follow is to faithfully live it one unwavering determined day at a time.
Adventure day had ended all too quickly. Morning would come, and the boys would return home, leaving behind a noisy silence. I lingered to watch the diminutive treasures sleep. So many memories to savor in my mind. Giggles on carousels, attending to tiny sticky fingers after oatmeal pies, thoughtful discussions on why you don't get balloons back if you let go of them, and many more that would certainly be enough to hold on to until we could make some more on the next visit. Slipping into bed and closing my tired eyes, I thanked the Lord for such a special day and for turning my "obsession" into a renewed joy for legacy living. Who would have thought it could happen at a carnival?
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
10/18/08
Interesting reading that really pulled me along.

This was much more about the legacy and the carnival than about Christmas trees, and may have lacked a bit of focus.

Thanks for sharing this unique entry!