The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: DROP IN A BUCKET (10/24/19)
Forty-seven-year-old Bernice moved restlessly in her pew at the small country church, dreading what she knew was coming.

It was the final service of the church's annual four-day missionary conference and soon the congregation would be asked to join the "Missionary March Offering."

As the missionary speaker ended a slideshow of his work in a West African leprosarium, the pastor announced, "Now, please stand while we sing "Onward Christian Soldiers," and make your way to the front to place your offerings in the offering plates. We've all been blessed hearing about the work this man of God and his wife have been doing in Africa, so please give generously as unto the Lord."

Bernice stood with the others to begin the march. She had exactly forty cents in her knitted purse but needed to buy a loaf of bread on her way home. Perhaps she could spare ten cents if she bought the day-old bread, she reasoned. As she walked to the front, she asked God to bless her gift so someone in that leprosarium could be helped. It wasn't much, not more than a drop in a bucket, but she had been profoundly moved during the slide show to see the disfigurement caused by such a dreadful disease and wished she had much more to give.

Living on a fixed income in public housing, Bernice received occasional financial help from church members who were aware of her needs and her inability to hold a job since she had only been able to complete eight years of schooling in a special needs facility.

The day after the missionary convention ended, a luncheon was held in the church's fellowship hall for the visiting missionary and his wife. When the luncheon ended, Bernice timidly approached the missionary's wife to thank them for their work in Africa and confided that though she didn't have much money, she wanted to do something for the leprosarium.

"I like to knit," said Bernice proudly. "My neighbors and friends at our church save their left-over yarn for me so I can knit things and sell some, too. Do you think I could knit something for you to take to the leprosarium when you go back in three months?"

The missionary hugged Bernice warmly. "What a wonderful idea!" she said. "Whatever you knit will bless someone there, I'm sure, and you will become a partner with us in missions."

After Bernice left, the missionary's wife cornered the pastor. "Africa is very hot much of the time but I couldn't refuse Bernice's offer. If you could mail it to me at our home address here in the States in the next two months, we'll pack it in our barrels for shipping. I'm guessing it will be potholders."

When Bernice arrived home, she gathered her left-over yarn and began knitting potholders as fast as she could.

With potholders stacked high, Bernice changed her mind. She'd sew them all together for an afghan. Unaware of the excessive heat in Africa, Bernice finished in record time and carried it to the pastor's wife who had offered to mail the gift to the missionary's home address.

After thanking Bernice over and over, the women waved goodbye. Immediately, the pastor's wife phoned the missionaries' residence.

"Bernice knitted a large afghan with unmatched colors and quite frankly, I'm embarrassed to mail it to you. Besides, it would be too warm for anyone in Africa to use." Finally, they agreed it could be used as packing material in one of the barrels. Bernice had worked too long and too hard for them to discard it.

Weeks later in Africa, they opened the barrels of supplies and discovered the afghan. Not knowing what else to do, they placed it on the shelf of a storage building.

Shortly thereafter, one of the women with leprosy became critically ill and shook uncontrollably with chills. The thin sheets did little to warm her emaciated body.

One morning, the missionary's wife was suddenly reminded of the afghan. She quickly retrieved it and spread it over the shivering patient.

"I love this," the woman cried. "I've never had anything so beautiful or so warm." Soon she was sleeping soundly under an ugly, mismatched afghan that no one wanted but brought comfort to a grateful, dying woman.

Back at Bernice's church, the pastor read aloud the letter from the missionary's wife with a picture of the afghan covering the leprosy patient.

And Bernice cried during the congregation's prolonged standing ovation.
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.
This article has been read 761 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Joy Bach 
10/31/19
What a wonderful story. So heartwarming. You had me from the beginning. Great writing. But of course! You are in the "Masters" category.
Joy Bach 
10/31/19
What a wonderful story. So heartwarming. You had me from the beginning. Great writing. But of course! You are in the "Masters" category.
Janet Richey
11/01/19
This is so beautiful. There are so many characteristics that God wants from us, packed into 750 words or less. Simple, but complex. Loved it.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
11/02/19
This was so beautiful--my eyes just filled with tears at how God blessed her gift--and her. You truly have a wonderful gift of words.
Barbara Culler 
11/03/19
Awww! This was beautiful!
Donna Powers
11/04/19
I loved this story! It reminds me that if God leads us to do something, we need to do it - even if it makes no sense to everyone around us. God can use anything for His glory
Laurie Glass 
11/06/19
Your first paragraph drew me in, and the ending left me teary-eyed. On topic and meaningful story. Love it.
Doug Spurling
11/06/19
Well done.
Well said.
Well written.
Thank you.

While reading your story, in the background, I was listening to Alexander Scourby, reading the Bible.

It just so happened, when I got to the part where your precious Bernice was about to make her offering, I had to stop and listen to the words coming from the speakers of my laptop:

"Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." (Mark 12:41-44)

Precious are the moments such as these, when time and eternity meet; when circumstance and Divine timing collide.

The world calls is coincidence…I know better.

If only I pause long enough to listen...It's here, I hear, my Savior breathe.


No matter what becomes of your story, it's ripple effect is already more than just a drop in the bucket.

Thank you for allowing Him, to bleed through your pen.