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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Luggage (08/15/05)
This morning I awoke to the smell of coffee and blueberry pancakes. I came down the stairs to see the luggage sets that I bought for my wife and kids lined up in front of the door. I bought a set for each of us two years ago for Christmas thinking we could take a nice vacation together. We never did go on vacation and they were not too thrilled about the gift.

I went into the kitchen to see what was going on, there was a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee at my usual seat at the table. I ate in silence until my wife told the kids to go get ready. I asked why the suitcases were in the foyer and she replied “We are leaving for good this time.” The sad thing is I was not surprised I have not been a good husband or father but I kept thinking I will work harder at my job to make up for all the bad things. I have not really changed my ways though, so I should have seen this coming.

I figured this was a good time to start praying, something I had not done since I was a child. I did not want to loose my family but was doing nothing to save it either. I decided to pray over their luggage one at a time starting with my youngest daughter, Kimberly. Then I prayed for my other daughter, Jessica.

Then I was getting ready to pray for my wife when it hit me that I was the one who needed to be prayed for. My family has been showing love me for years while I hurt them time and again. I can no longer count the times I have made my wife cry. I have had several lovers and an addiction to pornography. Every time I am caught I promise never to do it again and yet I never keep the promises. I always find a way to blame her and say things like maybe if you would loose some of that weight I would still want to have sex with you.

She does not deserve this, so I start to feel that they are better off without me and I turn to go say good bye to my family, but on the floor next to my wife’s chair is my wife’s prayer journal. It is full of prayers mostly for me and the children; I am surprised to see even on the day she is leaving me she is still praying that the Lord will some how save our marriage.

She may have said it is for good this time but with the Lords help I am going to get her back by letting him change my ways. I will see the luggage back in the foyer someday.
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This article has been read 1195 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shonnah Maxie
08/25/05
May the blessings of the Lord be stored upon you today and forever more. I feel that this came directly from your heart, keep the faith and what's meant to be will be. but more than anything continue to keep your faith in God he will never fail you.
Debra Brand 
08/25/05
A point of view not often heard. Thanks for sharing.
Jan Ackerson
08/25/05
I love the element of hope that you introduced here with the wife's prayer journal.
Tammy Johnson
08/25/05
My heart breaks for you if you are writing from your own experience. So glad for the hope in this story! Even impossible things can happen through prayer and God's wisdom and direction! The woman was right to leave to wake up the passive man. It brought him to his knees and hopefully restoration!
Julianne Jones
08/26/05
How sad and yet what love. Imagine! on the day she was leaving him she still made coffee and pancakes! How right that he decides to let God change him! Keep writing.
Crista Darr
08/27/05
I love the honesty in this piece. No matter how hard we try, however, we have no power over our sin. We must be born again. This is hard hitting and heart hitting writing. Don't neglect to proofread.
Theresa Kissinger
08/27/05
This was an interesting article, I think that without drawing a picture of the wife her personality and resolve were well formed. However I have to agree with the seeming passivity of the husband, witch left me thinking that his good intentions would not resolve the situation nor would he repent of the sin. The relationship between the writer {you} and the charater {the husband} became distant at the point of his admission, I want to see his turmoil...hopefully he his wife leaving him is his wake up. Please keep writing on difficult topics it's the world Jesus came to save.
Theresa Kissinger
08/27/05
didn't proof read which not witch.
Maxx .
08/27/05
nice lessons. I would like to see the scene and characters more fully developed. Still, a clear and concise writing.
darlene hight
08/29/05
Difficult and much needed topic. Keep up the great work.
Shari Armstrong 
08/29/05
A good lesson that many husband's need to learn. They need to be the spiritual head of the household, which means they need to have God in charge of their own lives.