Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: LOVE (agape and/or phileo) (03/12/15)
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TITLE: The Gift of Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jerry Pitts
03/16/15 -
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Well, the old saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” would certainly apply here. If you would have known my Grandmother the picture would be quite clear. Mary Brooks was a strong woman for sure, but she had the biggest heart. I was her pride and joy and spent most of my youth at her house. She had a way of making me feel so special, so I guess I should not be surprised that I am now the strange one, who loves his wife more than life itself. I truly believe she left all of us who knew her a special gift, and that was the gift of love. On the night she died, my wife, Janice and I came to her house in Jackson, Mississippi and slept in her bed. She was in an assisted living facility just down the street, and I had just visited her to say my goodbyes. She did not seem to know who I was during my visit, but later that night she made sure we were able to know how much she loved us. We did not even know she had passed away yet, when in the middle of the night Janice and I were awakened to this overwhelming feeling of love that rested on us both. I personally believe that was my Grandmothers spirit telling us goodbye, and letting us feel how much love she had for us. But she did so much more than that. She left us with this love in our hearts that seems to just grow stronger and stronger.
I was 26 and Janice was 24 years old when God first placed her in my life, and my grandmother loved her to death. It's hard to believe how, out of the 7 billion people on this planet, you meeting one person that can simply make this life worth living. But that's exactly what happened that magical night in March 1989, when right there on the dance floor of Cat-Man-Do's, a dance club in Jackson, is where I first laid eyes on this beautiful redhead. You throw in that amazing smile, those mesmerizing brown eyes and that blue jean skirt she was wearing, and I didn't have a chance. No doubt it was her beauty that got my attention, but it was her heart that captured mine. Almost from the start we were inseparable. We did everything together, which is not all that unusual for a new relationship. But as time went on, our desire to be together only grew stronger. I have no doubt that is why we have the relationship we have today. Proverbs 18:22 says, "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD." I can certainly say this has been true in my case, but not only did I find a wife, I found a best friend, who has stood by me through thick and thin; and just like Proverbs 31:10-12 say's "...She is worth far more than rubies. I have full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings me good, not harm, all the days of her life." and for that, I am one blessed man!
So, call it what you will; I call it the gift of love. It is simply a gift that keeps on giving, and I hope to pass it on from generation to generation. My Grandmother passed it on to her sons, and her sons passed it on to their families, of which I was blessed to be a part of. But I got a double portion of this love, both from my parents, and my Grandmother, so you might consider me doubly blessed. Now I can only pray that my children will carry the torch, and hopefully it will continue until the Author of Love returns and takes us to eternal Glory, where love will abound forevermore.
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Thanks for sharing. The gift of love is priceless.
God bless~
I noticed you switched your tense around some, starting with the past, then switching to the present, then back again. Also, only capitalize words like grandmother when using them as a name. If you have an article like my or the in front of it, then it's a common noun and should not start with a capital. For example: My grandmother was a lovely lady. She treated Grandpa with love.
I could feel your love as I read this beautiful tribute. I think you did a great job and this piece will be something your family will always treasure. I also liked the Bible verses you chose. They weren't the typical ones that many others used so it made it fresh and interesting. I think your ending brought the story full circle. Nice job.