Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: EERIE (07/28/16)
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TITLE: Burden or Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joy Bach
08/02/16 -
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As I was explaining to mother I was pregnant, she walked to the calendar on the wall, took it down, and showed me the date she had circled in red.
“That’s when you conceived. I’ve known all along.”
Other experiences like that with my mother as I was growing up had caused me to wonder if she was a witch. Once again, that thought went through my head. There was no excitement in sharing my news with her.
What else does she know?
My desire was to stay as far away from her as possible, although that apparently did not stop her from being in my life. She was considered a saint at our church, yet she hid a Ouija Board in a drawer in the bedroom. I had discovered it quite by accident one day.
I never wanted to be like her.
My brother, Dean, explained her gift could be used for good or evil. Over the years he demonstrated he had the ability to send messages to others. In the Navy, as they marched, he would send a color and a number to the guy in front of him. Telling a side party the information he had been sending, he then had someone else ask the recipient of Dean’s message what color and number he was thinking of.
It worked every time.
Dean was quite sure I, too, had this gift. I didn’t want it; even though there were times it became clear I possessed it.
“Let’s do a little experiment,” he said to me one day as his family was leaving my home in Texas. “We are going to visit eastern Kansas, but may stop by Dodge City on the way. May even spend the night. When I get to my destination, Emporia, I will send you a message and let you know we arrived. You write down the day and time. Let’s see if you can do this.”
“Don’t you dare. I do not want to be like mother.”
The next day, as I sat at the dinner table with my family, out of my mouth came the words, “Well they’re there.” And then I screamed.
I was like mother.
I fought the gift for years. It was scary and seemed evil to me. Yet time and again I received what I call vibes from someone. I tried to ignore them.
Divorce happened. I no longer lived under the religious oppression of my childhood. When I began dating John, I attended his choice of churches. He really wanted me to get acquainted with the church secretary and lady’s Bible study leader. I resisted. She sent out strong vibes.
Our relationship grew serious and marriage was discussed. John wanted his pastor to perform the ceremony. I was very uncomfortable with that arrangement. Once again, I had no answer as to why. He just sent out strong vibes.
The associate pastor officiated at our wedding.
In a matter of months, the pastor was let go. The reason. He was having an affair with the church secretary.
Puzzle solved.
I never know when I will begin to feel something. I can go for weeks without it happening. And I don’t always find out the reason for my reaction. But I’ve learned to be very aware of the vibes I receive from people.
And, yes, I receive messages across state lines. When my mother passed away in a hospital room in Kansas, I was awakened at 3:00 in the morning in Idaho. I described to Dean (who was there) in detail her room, right down to the direction her body was laying.
This is not an easy gift to accept. I didn’t ask for it. I fought against it. Having this gift requires me to be extra cautious about voicing my reaction. Others are uncomfortable when I share. Sometimes it’s hard to smile and be nice when my very being is poised to run from the encounter.
This is a special ability I believe God has given me. 1 Cor. 12:11 says, “It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”
It is my desire to use it wisely.
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