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Topic: THE WHOLE WORLD IN GOD’S HANDS (not the song) (05/28/15)
- TITLE: A Big God | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cindy Duncan
06/02/15 -
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Six months is nothing, Lester thought. At eighty-two, it was only 164th of his life. Yes, he had done the math. He always did the math. Six months was only an eye blink in the grand scheme of things. But it was all he had left. The doctor had seemed pretty sure that the cancer would claim Lester’s life by then.
The most difficult thing about this news was that he would have to go through the next six months without Mary. He had lost her only a month ago, and was still trying to find his way without her. She was his high school sweetheart, and had spoiled him his entire life, until she left him alone thanks to a massive stroke. It happened in her sleep one Saturday night. No goodbyes, no preparing him for life without her, no casseroles in the freezer like she usually left him when she went away. Just gone. Now that he thought about it, six months without her to help him through this trial would seem like an eternity.
Lester and Mary had three children, but they all lived halfway across the country. He had seen them at Mary’s funeral, but didn’t expect to see them again until the next major holiday, or until he told them the news of his impending demise. He had never felt so alone. Then the doorbell rang.
One of the ladies from their church had come bearing a casserole. The week Mary died someone had brought him food every night, but now the gifts had been reduced to once or twice a week. Lester thankfully received the dinner, and when the sweet lady left, he sat down to eat the delicious meal alone.
While dining, Lester thought about the church, the people there, and about God. He had always wondered how God could keep up with all the people at his church, and churches around the world. How could he hear all their prayers at the same time? Last time he checked, there were over seven billion people in the world, with thirty-one percent of them being Christian. That’s two million, two hundred and five thousand people that could potentially be talking to God at the same time. Was it really possible for God to hear all their prayers, and meet all their needs? This number didn’t even include those new converts praying for salvation every day, which God promised to those who called on him.
Lester finished his dinner, and leaned back in his leather recliner, which left the setting sun shining right in his eyes. The sun was ninety three million miles away, but still managed to aggravate him. It was amazing, though, how God kept the sun in space, and the earth rotating around it at just the right speed and distance to sustain life. That accomplishment might have been even more impressive to Lester than hearing and answering all those prayers at one time.
Then there were the flowers in his front yard. Mary had worked so hard planting and watering them, but it was God that pulled them out of the soil and opened their blooms. It was God that watered all the other flowers that were outside of their yard, and God that fed the birds that were not fortunate enough to live near Mary’s bird feeder. In fact, it was God that created all those birds, along with the other animals they loved to watch.
It was with that thought that Lester remembered that it was God who made him. He smiled as he thought to himself that he might be God’s most impressive piece of work. Mary would’ve smiled at that thought. She was always teasing him for his high self-esteem.
Having confidence in himself had helped him through some tough situations. This evening, though, God showed him that this situation required more than Lester could handle. He needed a big God to bring him through the next six months. The good news was that’s exactly what he had.
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My main suggestion would be to start off with an active line instead of a passive one. For example: Lester pounded his fist on the table. Six months will fly by too fast. It's not fair! At eighty-two, he had lived only 164 months of his life...
The story really touched my heart. I like the way you made the character seem so real. Life isn't fair, and God never promised it would be. He does promise to help us through those tough times. You sprinkled the topic throughout this story. I thought you did a great job of showing God care about us.