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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TRAIL (05/13/21)
Fork in the Road

Everyone of us in one way or another has come to a fork in the road. I am going to share from a diary of a dear friend of mine who recently passed away, her name is Annabella. As I visited with her the past few months she told me she was writing about the trail her life has left. She ask me to share her life story when and wherever I felt it would be helpful to someone.

After reading Annabella’s diary I feel strongly that the writings I am about to share can be helpful in someway, to anyone that reads them. So in her words I will begin.
“I started out as a very happy, funny little girl that brought joy to all those around me. I know this to be true because I heard it spoken a lot from my parents,,aunts, uncles, grandparents and teachers . I do remember I liked to make people laugh; I thought if everyone was laughing all was good with life.

When I was 8 I walked down that long aisle in the Baptist church and gave my life to God. I accepted Jesus as my Lord. This is the first fork in my trail I would leave behind. Before that my life was on a straight and narrow path heading to who knows where. But now I knew I was on a path that would give me the right direction to go, so my trail began.

Skip ahead to my teenage years and again I came to a fork in the road this time I did not choose so well . My decision at this fork was not the trail I want anyone to follow. I was rebellious, started smoking and drinking and others things I won’t mention. Oh yes- I was still making people laugh but in an ugly mean spirited way. I was very unhappy, but I was a master at hiding it- after all I did bring joy to all those around me. The trail I left on this part of my journey I would love to erase so that no one could follow it but that is not possible . Unlike Hansel and Gretel who left a trail of bread crumbs there are no birds to come and eat the trail I was leaving. This trailI was there forever.
By the grace of God in my mid 20’s I was again standing at another fork in my life, this one was the one that would make me or break me for the rest of my journey here on earth. Jesus was standing at one fork of the road heading right; offering me a life of love and forgiveness and satan standing at the fork heading left, waiting to destroy all that a good life had to offer me. I new in my heart this would be the trail I would leave behind me for all who knew me to follow.

I stood there with God on my right in all His love and compassion gently calling me back to Him and satan screaming at the top of his lungs what a boring life I would have if I made that right hand turn. I never really considered as I stood there, what effect my next step would have on the people that would come into my life going forward.
As I lay here now, soon going home to be with my Lord ,and love ones that have gone before me,I see how important that day was. I did take that right hand turn into the arms of God, so thankfully the trail I am leaving for my children and grandchildren, family and friends along the way is leading straight to everlasting life with our Heavenly Father.

Yes I do have a few wrong turns on my journey in this life, but when you get lost and finally find the route you need to get on, you start dropping sweet way points along your life’s trail that leads you home.
I wrote this in my diary to encourage each of you that it is very important to make sure the trail you are leaving for others to follow will not lead them astray but will lead them into the Fathers arms forever”.
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This article has been read 439 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Laura Manley
05/21/21
What a great opportunity to share your friend's memory writings. And so on point as far as the word of the week for the writing challenge. I am assuming you used the same punctuation as she had in her diary. If not, I would suggest that you utilize a punctuation tool to help correct any punctuation/grammar errors. There are two paragraphs where you do not have adequate spacing between the paragraphs. But, other than that, I found your story very intriguing in that it was true and coming from your friend who desired to help make a difference in someone's life.
C D Swanson 
05/25/21
Oh my this touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful way to honor your dear friend, who is now with the LORD! How selfless to utilize her time left, to make a journey in that it would help others. And how sweet to bring her wishes to fruition by publishing her journal.

Thank you for sharing her words, and powerful message.

God bless you~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/26/21
This is a lovely testimony. I think many people can relate to the difficult choices in life.

If this is truly an excerpt, I apologize but many parts don't sound authentic to my ear. I would be surprised that the author used the word trail as often as she did. It doesn't feel natural. I think if you count how many times it is used, you'll be surprised. Don't be afraid to let your writings sit for a day or two. Once you've been away for a bit, it'll be easier to spot typos.

You do have a profound message. The ending was very nice and brought the story full circle. It's a great reminder that others do look at our lives and my copy our actions so it's important to try to live as Jesus would want us to.
Bea Edwards 
05/27/21
You wrote a bittersweet piece that is very relatable and precious.

I like to suggest reading your entry out loud to yourself to catch flow, punctuation and grammar discrepancies.