Joy of Living Award. | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Joy of Living Award. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
08/24/16
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Alicia bounded down the stairs and out the front door in her Nike's shoes.
Well, she did not bound physically but in her heart she did.
Today was `play day' at the women's club and she loved going. Friends met at the church and played board games, ate lunch and discussed the next things to do for the year. She was wearing orange t-shirt and pants. She no longer wore black. To her, orange meant happiness was back. " It was time to stop mourning and live again" she vowed.

After a ten year marriage, darling Tobias had left her and moved to another state with his mistress and their two children. His action left her stunned, bereft and alone. He had filed for divorce. They had had no children. Like a good though deserted wife, she still loved him and mourned the loss of trust and companionship. The club reminded her that she was still young.

She caught sight of herself in the car mirror. “I will lose weight too” she quietly vowed to herself. Last week she had donated lots of things like clothing and old mementos to the yearly yard sale. The funds generated would be sent to help the poor that the church's missionary partners worked with in needy areas. *He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
"But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him." {Proverbs14:31}

Releasing herself from her manmade prison was empowering.
"Life is for living" was Mama's favourite line and she remembered it often these days. Mama died ten years ago with a smile on her face.

Many of her club friends had been or was going through tough times and she felt compassion for them. She felt and knew that prayer helped so they started regular prayer times.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." {Ephesians 6:18}
Prayer time at the club was uplifting and valued by all of them. Increasingly a growing part of her life was spent in the Word and in prayer these days. She also wondered if the Lord was leading her to do short term mission work for him, either here or another country. She has been asking Him that question too.

She looked in her mirror this morning and smiled. "Praise the Lord!" she said. She was thankful that she could smile and not cry as she had so often done after Tobias left. Tomorrow she and Lucille would volunteer at the local ALF where they transported people to appointments. They had so much fun with the residents.

She drove to the club in the slow lane because it gave her time to think, sing and listen to the local Moody Radio. She had a hard time finding a parking space. She went in the to the front door and could not see anyone so she went into the vestry which was empty, so she wandered into the kitchen area.

Firstly she saw balloons.
"Looks like a celebration!" she thought to herself.
"Hello, Hello, where is everyone?" she called out.
"Surprise! Surprise!" the group yelled.
“What’s going on, girls?”

"We have awarded you the "Joy of Living" Award.

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