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2002 Sowing Seeds Writing Contest Winner: Devotions “Truth” by Lana Straub of Stanton, Texas As she sat in her cubicle at her desk, she realized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was about to slip through her fingers. She had just hung up the phone with her husband Rick. He was very excited because he had finally found the house of their dreams and wanted to buy it right away. He had already called the banker. All he needed was the current amounts in Jill’s checking and savings accounts and they could be in the house by next weekend. Jill began to cry. There was no money in the checking or savings accounts; at least not the amounts that Rick thought were there. Moreover, to make matters worse, there was a ton more credit card debt that Rick knew nothing about. He knew nothing because Jill kept it a secret: A secret that only she and Sarah shared. She had secretly been funneling their savings to her mother, Sarah. Sarah lost her job sixteen months before and had been unemployed for four months. It should not have been a major problem; except Sarah had expensive tastes, and her lifestyle reflected those tastes. She lived in a fancy house that she could not afford. She had many fancy toys that she did not need but could not live without indulging in. Then there was the fine furniture. Sarah loved to indulge in the finest wood-grained ensembles that money could buy. In other words, Sarah had bills to pay and since she was out of work, she expected Jill to pay them. Therefore, Jill did. It was expected of a loving daughter. She did what Mother expected at whatever cost. It was about to cost Jill, the future. Just before being busted, Sarah moved out of town earlier that month, effectively leaving the scene of the crime. Jill called her mother and explained the situation, and asked Sarah, “What am I going to do now?” Sarah replied, “I don’t know dear. If he loves you, you’ll be fine. If not, come live with me. I wish I could pay you back, but the move cost me everything I had. I’m flat broke.” As she hung up the phone, Jill felt even more devastated. She had called for advice and gotten her mother’s usual runaway response. Jill pondered her options. Was there any possible way out of this mess that would not ruin her life? She decided to call her father and ask his advice. “Dad?” asked Jill. “I’ve done something very wrong and I need you to hear me out. I desperately need your help.” She went on to explain the situation to him, to explain how she had loaned Sarah over $30,000 over the past year and a half and how she had done it all behind her husband’s back. Disappointed her father replied, “You’ve broken the sacred marriage vows. Lending you money will not help the problem. You have to come clean. The truth is your only salvation. You have to tell him. Today. Now. Tell him Jill. Throw yourself on his mercy and maybe he will not throw you out. If he does, I would not blame him. You lied. You have to pay the consequences.” Jill when home with a listing of all her bills, she laid it all on the table for Rick to see. He was flabbergasted. Much to his embarrassment, he called off the deal on the house, and did not speak to her for the rest of the night. He did not have much to say for the rest of the weekend. On Sunday night, Rick came to Jill with a little piece of paper in his hand. On the paper was written the word, “truth.” “Today is the new beginning of our marriage. I want you to carry this in your pocket. Everything you do from this day forward must be based on this word or our marriage will be a failure. I love you and I forgive you.” “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your
old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed
yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you
learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.”
Colossians 3:9-10 (NLT) If you would like to offer a note of encouragement to Lana Straub you can reach her at: lanastraub@masterfreelancer.zzn.com Honorable Mention Winners "Daddy's Day" by Whitney Ripley in Lynchburg, Virginia "Crisis of Spirit" by Teresa S. Dempewolf of Modesto, California "Forgiveness is like Spinach..." by Mary Jo Uplinger, Conneaut Lake, PA "The Ant and the Rubber Tree Plant" by Connie Campbell, Lynchburg, VA For information on our 2003 Writing Contest, please click here. |