Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write something in the YOUNG ADULT or TEEN genre (06/07/07)
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TITLE: Dreams | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Kliewer
06/14/07 -
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“Sure they will,” her best friend, Shar answered.
“I don’t think so. Mom doesn’t think what I do is worthwhile. She never seems to take interest at all in my writings. All my life I’ve written poetry and stories. You know how I always have my pen and paper with me wherever I go, and how I’m especially inspired if I’m out in God’s glorious creation. She sees that I do this, but doesn’t ask about what I’ve written. As far as she’s concerned I could just be skipping rocks or some such mundane thing!” Tanya’s eyes welled with tears. As one slipped from her eye tracing its way down her cheek, she swiped at it with her fist.
“Ah, man Tanya. That really stinks. I know parents can be so lame sometimes and show no interest at all in what we’re interested in, but have you ever asked her to read what you’ve written?”
“I shouldn’t have to ask! Like I said, she sees what I’m doing and she should show interest! Good grief, Shar! She knows I take all these writing classes, and she’s never asked what I’m working on. Writing is all
I’ve ever wanted to do, but without her approval it seems pretty much useless.”
“Why do you need her approval? Are you writing for her, or for yourself? Are you writing because God has given you a gift and He wants you to use it?”
Tanya looked up at her oh-so-wise friend and just stared. Her eyes were puddles of pain, suffering, and a little bit of guilt as she pondered what she had said.
“Shar, what am I supposed to do?” She wailed. “I have this need so deep inside me to write. It’s something I just can’t get away from. It’s a yearning that won’t go away. My thoughts want to spill out on paper… there is so much inside of me and unless I pour it out on paper I get agitated and feel so useless.”
“Can’t you see, Tanya? You’re supposed to write. It’s in your blood, in your soul, part of your very makeup from the time you were woven together in your mother’s womb. God put it there. It doesn’t matter who sees your writing, does it? As long as you’re doing what God wants you to do, letting Him guide you and using your gifts for His glory.”
“You’re right, but I just can’t seem to get away from the fact that my mom seems so indifferent to my dreams and the deepness of my heart. I want her to look at me and really see me. You know?”
“I know Tanya, but I really think you should ask her to read what you’ve written. You might be surprised.”
“OK, but this sure is scary… Pray for me would you? I don’t want to lose something that God wants for me.”
“Of course I’ll pray for you Tanya. You know that without asking!” She leaned toward Tanya on the bed they were sitting on and gave her a tight squeeze. “I’ve gotta jet. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“OK, and thanks, Shar. You’re the best.”
“Whatever…” Shar mumbled as she made her exit.
Sitting on Tanya’s bed again the next afternoon after school, Shar didn’t beat around the bush. “How’d it go?”
“Wellll, I went up to her when she was relaxing on the couch after supper, reading a book. I said, ‘Hey mom, would you read this please? I want to know what you think.’ She seemed a bit distracted at first, but she took it and as she started reading her eyes got big and round and pretty soon, she was crying. Shar, she cried at what I had written! It was amaazing!”
“What’d she say?” Shar’s eyes showed pure delight.
“She said, ‘Sweetheart, you wrote this?’ I said, ‘yeah, I did. You like it?’ ‘Like it?’ she said. ‘you should send this in somewhere!’”
“Wow! Really?”
“Yeah, so I sent it off to that Christian teen magazine today.”
“Wow that is really cool. How are you feeling now?”
“Like I should have talked to you about this a long time ago!”
They laughed, hugging each other.
Tanya knew now that she could share with her mom, it was just a matter of reaching out to her and inviting her to share her life, her hopes, and her dreams.
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