Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: How to be Saved (07/02/26)
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TITLE: Sweet Memory | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Kliewer
07/09/26 -
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A vivid memory blooms in full color, causing a burst of joy to momentarily chase the desperation into a corner of my mind. I see my 10-year-old self sitting on a hay bale, absently stroking a gray tabby kitten on my lap, deeply pondering something I knew I had done wrong. My papa walks in.
”Hey sweetie, what are you doing out here all alone? It will be dark soon. Your mama has dinner almost ready. Why don't you go in and get washed up and help her set the table?”
Sighing, hands on my hips, a frown creasing my brow, I grumble, “Okay, if I have to.”
“Young lady watch your attitude,” Papa says, gently but firmly.
Tears well up, spilling out rapidly as I sob.
“Hey, hey, hey. What's this?”
“I'm s-s-sorry papa. I'm, I'm so s-s-sorry! I didn't m-m-mean it!” I whimper, the sobs causing me to stutter.
I see Papa take me in his arms, pulling me to his green flannel covered chest, holding me close, stroking my hair.
“Shh, shh, it can't be as bad as all that.” Papa croons.
“Y-y-yes it can! I broke Mama's favorite t-t-teacup and I hid it in my sock drawer. I feel j-j-just awful!”
“Ah, so you're dealing with a guilty conscience.”
“W-what's that?” I say as I pull back from him, swiping my hands across my tear-filled eyes, taking a deep breath as the sobbing eases.
“That's the part of you that God put in you to know when you've done something wrong; when you've sinned.”
I look down at the floor covered in hay, more tears sneaking out my eyes. “I've d-done lots of things wrong.” I say in a whisper. “I feel guilty a lot.”
Papa puts his finger under my chin, lifting it so I'm looking into his kind, compassion-filled eyes. “Do you know that you can talk to Jesus about that?”
“Not r-really. I mean, I know the stories from the Bible, that you and Mama read to us kids, but I d-don't know how to talk to Jesus.”
I see the dust motes dancing across the hay-strewn floor, hear the horses shuffling in their stalls, and the distant sound of chickens clucking in the yard outside as Mama calls us to dinner. I see myself looking up at Papa in adoration.
I remember the sense of wonder I felt as he told me about talking to Jesus and how to be saved.
“It's simple, sweetie. The Bible says, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.' Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We've talked to you children about that from the Bible, about how He hung on the cross, died, was buried and rose from the dead three days later. He did that so that we don't have to keep on sinning and we can be forgiven of our sins when we believe in Him. Do you believe, Jessica?”
“Yes, Papa I do, but I still do bad things.”
“I know, we all do.”
I see my eyes widen as I continue to look up at him, exclaiming, “Even you?”
“Yes, sweetie, even me. And when I know I've done wrong, I tell Jesus about it and if I have done something wrong against someone else, I go talk to them about it too, asking them to forgive me. Then I don't have a guilty conscience anymore because talking to Jesus and knowing I'm forgiven brings me back into a right place with Him. Let's pray together.”
I see us praying together, a bright smile lighting my face, knowing that Jesus has forgiven me.
The storm outside rages on, but my soul has calmed with the memory. I whisper a prayer, “Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for the reminder of my belief in you. I confess my sin to you now and thank you for your forgiveness.”
*Scripture reference: Acts 16:31 ESV
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