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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Employment (01/26/12)
The irritating buzz of the alarm pierced through the early morning darkness. Two-thirty again already, but I could have sworn my head just hit the pillow! I reached to shut it off, only barely fighting off a powerful urge to hit the snooze button. I knew I was already pushing it. I had to be on the job before four. That left only just enough time for my morning routine and drive time. Grudgingly I rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
“Why Lord?” I silently murmured.
The blast of frosty air was like a slap in the face as I opened the back door and headed for the truck. I cringed at the thought of another bone-chilling day working in the metal building, we all called “the barn.” The place was like a huge ice-box, the concrete slab floor and the un-insulated walls made it colder inside than out most of the time!
“Why Lord?” I silently murmured.
The boards were cupped and twisted. I was supposed to make a decent looking cabinet with this material, what were they thinking! It would take hours of tedious straightening and sanding, nothing made a twelve hour day drag by more slowly.
“Why Lord?” I silently murmured.
The clock's seemingly motionless hands finally pushed their way to four o’clock, quitting time! It was Friday, payday, but hardly a reason to smile. Bills were due and I’d be doing good if I had enough spare change left to buy me a coke and candy bar on the way home!
“Why Lord?” I silently murmured.
I put on a brave happy face as I trudged up the steps and opened the front door. There stood the “love of my life”, waiting with a warm, tender, embrace and a loving kiss, only to be interrupted by the joyous shout of , “Daddy!...Daddy!” as our little girl ran toward me with outstretched arms.
“This is why,” came the gentle reminder.
As we knelt to pray that evening, my wife said, “Don’t forget to pray for Brother Richard, He hasn’t been able to find a job yet and we might need to see if they need some groceries or anything.”
“This is why, “came the gentle reminder.
It was great to be back in the Lord’s house again. Nothing encouraged me more than the great fellowship, singing and the of course the preaching. What a blessing! It was offering time and the pastor reminded us of the needs of the ministry and how God said that He loved a cheerful giver.
“This is why,” came the gentle reminder.
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This article has been read 866 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
02/03/12
What a wonderful story. Serves as a priceless reminder as to "what matters" in this current life on earth. Thank you for this poignant and sweet story. God Bless~
Verna Mull
02/03/12
You did a great job of painting a picture of what most of us go through at times when we have a job to do. Why aren't we just thankful that we HAVE a means of support? Still, I think we have all been down that road.
Cynthia Carter
02/03/12
What a great story. I will have to remember it the next time I take my job for granted. Thanks.
Helen Carr
02/04/12
A wonderful reminder that God's blessings are not always obvious, sometimes we have to look hard for them.

Perhaps look at your formatting next time; leaving spaces between the paragraphs makes it a bit easier to read. And don't forget to proof read; just a couple of tiny spelling errors. This seems pedantic, but it does interrupt the flow of the story a bit. Overall, a very well done story.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/08/12
I enjoyed this so much. A perfect title would have been "This is Why". The beginning drew me right into the bedroom and I could feel the dread of going out in the cold.

You had a few minor issues with spacing, double space between each paragraph to give the reader that white space. I also saw some extra spaces between commas or quotation marks. Hitting preview before submit will help you catch those little things. Also don't use explanation marks so much. Save them for dialog and let your words do your expressing.

You did an outstanding job of writing on topic while delivering a poignant message that so many can relate to. Great read!
Dimple Suit
02/08/12
A priceless reminder of His ways, not ours! Thank you for the beautiful warmth and faith in your story.
C D Swanson 
02/11/12
Congrats...God Bless~