The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Achoo (04/11/13)
Suddenly, spontaneously, it starts.

Triggered by an irritant, the swell builds.

Muscles contract with choreographed precision, culminating in the eruption of a simple sneeze.

Achoo!

It occurs naturally.

That which is aggravating our nasal passages is gone.

Sigh.

I just wish I could eradicate irritants in my relationships as easily.

It just doesn’t come naturally.

I’d like to say that loving people comes easy to me all the time, but it doesn’t.

Sometimes, it’s hard. Things that people do aggravate me. A lot.

Jesus knew that we would struggle with difficult people, and it would be hard to love them. He said we would have trouble, and it would not be easy.

People will reject us, offend us, provoke us and rattle us.

They will hurt us, use us, abuse and confuse us.

People will slander and gossip and lie.

They will manipulate and exasperate and rile.

I don’t like it when I’m faced with troublesome people. I want to lash out and cast the irritant away from me. I want to be done with the situation, and sometimes, done with the person.

But Jesus has other ideas.

He calls us to love our enemies.

That’s hard for me on a good day, nearly impossible on a bad.

Thankfully, Jesus did not leave us alone to figure it out. He sent His Holy Spirit to work in us and teach us, to strengthen us and empower us to walk in a way that does not come naturally.

Please Lord, remind me with a sneeze, to love my enemies.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1184 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
dub W
04/23/13
Normally, I like prose connected and flowing, but your construction showed your intensity.
Beth LaBuff 
04/24/13
What a very clever devotional. The style you've chosen lends itself perfectly to your message. I enjoyed and appreciate your writing here. Thanks!
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
04/25/13
At least we can count on being blessed when we sneeze . . .
lynn gipson 
04/25/13
CONGRATULATIONS! An HC is level one is very rare! Excellent writing, my friend!
lynn gipson 
04/25/13
I'm so sorry dear, I meant EC not HC. EC is much better. Editor's Choice is rare in level one. I think you might think of moving up a level! Very good writing!
Christina Banks
04/25/13
Congratulations on you EC! Great job!!!
Sheldon Bass 
04/25/13
Wonderful entry! Congratulations on a well deserved EC!
Linda Rogers
04/26/13
I really "connected" with your words. What a great way to remind us to love the ones we'd rather be done with.
Good Job!
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
04/26/13
Congratulations!
Charla Diehl
04/26/13
Congratulations on making the EC list and placing 1st in your level. Surely you'll be moving up a level soon with writing like this. Nice flow, great message and liked the ending sentence--it tied the whole piece together.
Bea Edwards 
04/27/13
You made great use of contrasting the sneeze irritant with a human element and the reminder to love people in spite of how they are. This was a wonderful piece of work. A sneeze cue would be beneficial for me numerous times each day!
Well done and congratulations on placing in the EC.