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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Family Home (05/29/08)
A charming, wooden heart-shaped plaque, covered with country hearts, fluttering butterflies, and colorful flowers adorns my entry wall with the familiar adage, “Home is where the heart is”. I smile wistfully at it as I head outside, while the door closes on temporary silence. Lord, am I out of my mind?

Jumbled reactions infuse my brain as I quickly walk to the mailbox wondering if there will be ten letters or twenty-five, all requiring immediate attention. Tears drip on the stack in my hands - my desk, heaped with backed up correspondence that I have no time for, needles me with failure. And this is my other family, Father, that you want me to mother?

Entering the house, a new wave of childish noise assaults my ears. Dumping my newest pile of letters on the table, I rush to the other room to apply sanity to the chaos. I dash into my office momentarily.

The photos of my “other children”, included in their letters, are scattered like “life books” on the walls of my “Prisoner Cove”. Innocent and guilty; all prisoners: red and yellow, black, brown and white. My heart recoils in frustration. Why have you chosen me, Lord, to do this, when the cost is unbearable, and seemingly impossible? How can I justify writing to men behind walls of barbed wire held captive to a system that warehouses suffering, when I have so little time to do it decently? How can I reconcile two homes that need full time attention, care, and love that get in the way of the other, when there is only one of me? Tears cascade onto my keyboard. This hurts too much, Lord. Have mercy on me, on all of us …

Obtrusively, a tune on the radio invades my ears as the lyrics settle into my soul:

“Give me Your eyes for just one second … Give me Your eyes so I can see … Give me Your arms for the broken hearted … Wasn’t it far beyond my reach? … Give me Your heart for the once forgotten …Give me Your eyes so I can see”.*

Didn’t I pray – please use me, Lord? Didn’t You give me two families to love deeply – my own children, and the rejected, lonely, and forgotten “dregs of society”? I am bound, sharing tears in their suffering, with many of these men who are my brothers in Christ.**

Squabbling from the other room draws me away once again. My adopted children, coming from abuse and neglect, require no less attention and nurturing.

Darting back to my cove, I pray. How can I refuse the pleas from men whose “family home” is four walls of cement and iron, Father? Pieces of their letters cut into my heart: “I fell to my knees weeping when I received your letter saying you would write to me”; “I have been begging God for five years to send someone who cares”; “I don’t know what I would do if you reject me like my family did”; “How can I show my gratitude for changing my life because you care”?; “Will you be my momma? My momma died and I have no one left who wants me”; “Can I call you my big sis? You are all the family that I have”. I am humbled and contrite. When I am weak, You are strong.

Lord, give me Your love and wisdom as I sit in my “home within a home”, while generating love, comfort, hope, and counsel for one family and blending it with the love and challenges of the other. I can’t do this without You.

Rainbows of paper rest expectantly on shelves. Card stock piles are ready for transformation into greetings. Sisterly affection and motherly advice pour from my heart onto paper, radiantly sprinkling warmth on sunless hearts in impenetrable cells of desolation and suffering. “I was in prison, and you came to me.”***

Instinctively I look up from my writing, hearing my little ones running to me for big hugs. Thank You, Father, for two families to love.

Smiling, I glance again at the piles of correspondence. Handmade cards, incredible drawings, colorful artwork, and expressive poetry - offerings of delight and appreciation that God has heard their lonely weeping. Still warm from precious squeezes, my heart responds: Who am I, Father, to be worthy of this kind of love? Thank you Lord, for all the cherished treasures of two families blended into one family home. You are awesome.

*******************
*Partial lyrics from:
Album Name (Scheduled release, August, 2008): What If We
Artist: Brandon Heath
Song Title: Give Me Your Eyes
Lyricist: Brandon Heath
©2008 Reunion Records/Sitka 6 Music Publishing
* Lyrics used with permission

Scripture References from the KJB:

** Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

** 1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

** Hebrew 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

*** Matthew 25:36 Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.
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This article has been read 966 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sara Harricharan
06/05/08
What a change of heart! It was slightly confusing to read of the back and forth from the running to and from, but that was only because I wanted to see what would happen next! It's a good read, especially the heart that is willing to be changed and used. Wonderful stuff! ^_^
Andrea Hargrove
06/08/08
This story was difficult to follow, and I had to reread it to understand exactly what was happening. You might want to add a little more plot and a little less character reflection.
Debbie Wistrom
06/09/08
You have some very good word choices here, one I like the best is "my desk, heaped with backed up correspondence that I have no time for, needles me with failure."

Keep writing, it is evident that you have much to say and the talent to get it done.

Keep up the good words.
Joanne Sher 
06/09/08
I LOVED this. The emotion is so engaging and wonderfully done, and I felt like I was right there with you. Great stuff.
Glynis Becker
06/10/08
I can very much feel the anguish of the main character. Great job!
Catrina Bradley
06/10/08
Lovely story, filled with emotion. All the dashing and rushing and darting reflects the chaos she feels in her life and makes us feel unsettled right along with her. Nice job!
Beckie Stewart
06/10/08
You are wonderful at giving descriptions to settings. I wish I could do that as well as you.
Aaron Morrow
06/10/08
Beautiful job developing the internal struggle and transformation to gratitude. Very well written given the many emotional dynamics involved!
Betty Castleberry
06/11/08
I don't know if this is true, but it's a wonderful ministry if it is. Well written, and great message.
D. Phenes
06/12/08
neat take on the topic. Great job!
Edmond Ng
06/12/08
Two is better than one, and rightly so, if you are doing what you are doing not to receive, but to give. You have conveyed the thinking mind in this story very well, because in the real world, people don't think in sequence. A nicely written tribute to one who has to serve two families, or three to include the body of Christ!