Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SLOTH (indolence; laziness) (01/29/15)
-
TITLE: The Good Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
02/02/15 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Each yearned for love and each knew in her heart that someday having a baby would fulfill that great desire. Ivory in one sense was the luckier of the pair as she came from a two-parent family. Ebony’s father was one of many men that passed through the doors of their house. Her four half-siblings were proof of that. Ivory’s luck didn’t extend much past the fact that she had a father present in the house. He began molesting her when she turned seven and threatened severe punishment if she ever told her mother. She kept quiet and suffered that way until meeting Ebony. The men who turned up night after night at Ebony’s house to keep her mother entertained taught her one thing: alcohol apparently dulled the pain. Watching her mother drink herself into a stupor convinced her that men and alcohol were inseparable companions. Neither girl experienced much love. When the opportunity presented itself to flee from her respective home, each did so as quickly as possible.
School became an oasis of sanity for both, not the schooling itself, rather the opportunity to talk, to share their hearts, to flee from the hurt and loneliness. Both were attractive girls and when the first older boy came along Ivory fell for him. He used her and moved on but soon she realized she was pregnant, the dream of a lifetime. For the first time in her life Ebony’s jealousy flared against Ivory. It wasn’t long before a boy caught the message of her availability; soon she too was with child.
The fact of her pregnancy didn’t disturb Ebony’s mother. A sly smile crossed her face as she said, “Girl, ‘bout time you contributin’ to this household.” Ebony didn’t understand it at the time, but when the government checks started coming after the birth of her daughter, she got an inkling of what her mother meant. In Ivory’s case, her father yelled at her nonstop for two days. She couldn’t know that he feared the child was his. Her mother told her that she was a tramp and no longer welcome to live with them. She ended up on the streets for several months before a shelter took her in just before the birth of her own daughter.
Several years passed along with a couple more children for each girl, and they decided to share living quarters. With the government subsidies they found themselves living a rather comfortable middle class lifestyle. They received significant cash for the children, food stamps, free housing, help paying their utility bills, medical, and other federal assistance. It allowed them to watch the largest big-screen TV on the market and drive their own Cadillacs. Life was good, if not a little hectic with all the screaming, crying, and harsh words that erupted periodically.
One day while at the grocery store, just after she’d smacked little Keira for whining for more candy, Ebony encountered a woman who said, “Jesus loves you.” Still huffing and angry at her child, she went home disturbed. She’d heard of Jesus, but all she knew was that He was somehow associated with church. The words tugged at her heart and she desired to know more of this Jesus. Ivory had no interest, so Ebony, with great trepidation, went alone to her first Sunday service.
The pastor in his message spoke of the fool in Proverbs who did nothing for himself and had nothing in his life to show for the years he’d put on the earth, a wasted life. He spoke of Jesus who could change the circumstances of all who came to Him and redeem their lives if only they repented and trusted in the Savior. Overcome with conviction and emotion Ebony responded to the altar call and became a new person in Christ.
Excited, she hurried home to share it all with Ivory. Sitting before the blaring television in her comfy chair, Ivory shook her head. She reached into the bag in her lap and jammed four potato chips in her mouth. “I got no interest in that, honey,” she said, “and no need. Life is good.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
