The big picture
God knows30 total reviews
Comment from Paul McFarland
I see that you entered this in Flash Fiction Contest. From your notes, this appears to be nonfiction, but it is a great entry. The chain of events that you portray is solid evidence of a higher power.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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I see that you entered this in Flash Fiction Contest. From your notes, this appears to be nonfiction, but it is a great entry. The chain of events that you portray is solid evidence of a higher power.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you Paul. Yes, it was to be fiction for the contest flash fiction requirement, so I became the "fictional Linda". It?s my own experience, so the facts are true.
Wendy
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I see you have a new picture.
Comment from Begin Again
Great story With a good moral behind it. Something we can to forget in our everyday life.
Just a thought so you don't get disqualified. It sounds like this is a fiction contest. I have no idea what the rules are but I know you've had problems before so I just thought I.
"my computer and laptop are down and I'm trying to use my phone so I apologize
Have a great day Carol
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Great story With a good moral behind it. Something we can to forget in our everyday life.
Just a thought so you don't get disqualified. It sounds like this is a fiction contest. I have no idea what the rules are but I know you've had problems before so I just thought I.
"my computer and laptop are down and I'm trying to use my phone so I apologize
Have a great day Carol
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Hi Carol, thank you so much for reviewing and for your care. The story is a true one, but the person is fictional. There is no sister Linda, it is my own story. I hope that will meet their requirements. You are still in my prayers. Hope your computer is restored soon, it?s very hard to work on a phone. Thanks again.
Wendy
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
This is such a God-affirming story, and you told it well. In retrospect, it is plain to see that God's plan was successful for her. I am so glad we know He watches over us. I know about life-changing problems. Four years ago, my husband had a slight stroke, then two weeks later a serious colon bleed that almost took his life, and while he was in the hospital with the bleed, a second much more serious stroke in the same area. We were both 81 at the time. His right side and his speech were affected. He did a great deal of therapy and has some quality of life--but not the same as before. He does not have dexterity with his right hand and his speech has just a very slight lisp, but both feet and legs have become weaker steadily with neuropathy. He had to give up our car this spring, and since he did almost all the driving since our retirement, I did not think it wise for me to start again. So we gave our car to our son, who takes us wherever we need to go. Leon had a stroke in the basilar artery 25 years ago that did not have severe effects. Our son felt it wise for us to be in an independent senior living situation near him, and we made the move them. Now we count our blessings of God's goodness that we made that move, that I'm able to take care of what's necessary for both of us, and that our son is 10 minutes away, and our daughter about 50 minutes from us. We're thankful for our children and that we get to see our grandchildren and great grandchildren (though not, with their busy lives, too often). We are blessed by our children's loyalty and good friends here. Our daughter and her husband come once a week to take us to lunch, and our son and wife come once a week to take us to breakfast and the grocery store. We eat dinner in the dining room here, and breakfast and lunch in our cozy apartment. God is very good.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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This is such a God-affirming story, and you told it well. In retrospect, it is plain to see that God's plan was successful for her. I am so glad we know He watches over us. I know about life-changing problems. Four years ago, my husband had a slight stroke, then two weeks later a serious colon bleed that almost took his life, and while he was in the hospital with the bleed, a second much more serious stroke in the same area. We were both 81 at the time. His right side and his speech were affected. He did a great deal of therapy and has some quality of life--but not the same as before. He does not have dexterity with his right hand and his speech has just a very slight lisp, but both feet and legs have become weaker steadily with neuropathy. He had to give up our car this spring, and since he did almost all the driving since our retirement, I did not think it wise for me to start again. So we gave our car to our son, who takes us wherever we need to go. Leon had a stroke in the basilar artery 25 years ago that did not have severe effects. Our son felt it wise for us to be in an independent senior living situation near him, and we made the move them. Now we count our blessings of God's goodness that we made that move, that I'm able to take care of what's necessary for both of us, and that our son is 10 minutes away, and our daughter about 50 minutes from us. We're thankful for our children and that we get to see our grandchildren and great grandchildren (though not, with their busy lives, too often). We are blessed by our children's loyalty and good friends here. Our daughter and her husband come once a week to take us to lunch, and our son and wife come once a week to take us to breakfast and the grocery store. We eat dinner in the dining room here, and breakfast and lunch in our cozy apartment. God is very good.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you Verna. Yes, it is good to thank Him, and publicly acknowledge His goodness. The story met the flash fiction requirements because there is no sister Linda. I am Linda, and the story is about my life experience.
Wendy.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Amazing! Nicely written.
I hope you win the contest. But why is it 'Faith Flash Fiction'?
Is part of the story untrue? I don't get it.
"God sees the big picture." - Or is it that this line, being unprovable, renders the piece fictional?
Best wishes and blessing upon your sister, Linda.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Amazing! Nicely written.
I hope you win the contest. But why is it 'Faith Flash Fiction'?
Is part of the story untrue? I don't get it.
"God sees the big picture." - Or is it that this line, being unprovable, renders the piece fictional?
Best wishes and blessing upon your sister, Linda.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Hi Wayne, the requirements confused me. "Write a flash fiction story that somehow incorporates your faith or thoughts about how faith guides us in our daily life." I wrote it about my sister to make it fictional and hence meet requirements. (But it is really my own life story, and that's how I initially wrote it. But because another reviewer indicated it probably needed to be fiction, I changed it in order to meet the requirements. Do you think I have approriately met the requirements of "Faith flash-fiction"?)
I am sure that it is true that God sees the big picture. That part has to stay.Thank you for reviewing. I always appreciate it.
Wendy
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Yes, I do believe you met the requirements. And bless you! What an ordeal! And absolutely keep God's overview in, I was just grasping straws trying to see why the fictional classification.
Maybe an Author's Note that there is no sister; you are Linda?
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Yes, I wondered about that. That might be good. It somehow feels more honest. And yet the story is now definitely ? fiction?. Thanks again.
Comment from JoannaN
This was a great story and I hope everything will be fine for your sister. You were lucky to have found someone who was actually able to help you.
I wish you and your family all the best.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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This was a great story and I hope everything will be fine for your sister. You were lucky to have found someone who was actually able to help you.
I wish you and your family all the best.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you very much Joanna! What a lovely and generous gift of six stars. I count it an honour. Thank you for your very kind words.
Wendy
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:) you're welcome. Stay safe :)
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
So, this is non-fiction? I'm a little confused about that.
This is certainly a story of faith, and you've told it well - as you always do. But the story and author's notes tell me this did, in fact, happen.
Hope you are well and that you enjoy a lovely Christmas season.
Pam
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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So, this is non-fiction? I'm a little confused about that.
This is certainly a story of faith, and you've told it well - as you always do. But the story and author's notes tell me this did, in fact, happen.
Hope you are well and that you enjoy a lovely Christmas season.
Pam
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you for reviewing Pam. I also was a bit confused, and when I looked at a few other entries they were apparently non-fiction. However, because of your review, I decided to change it a little to make it fiction. The requirement was to "write a flash fiction story that somehow incorporates your faith or thoughts about how faith guides us in our daily life." I made it about my sister, as that is fiction, but the application to MY faith is still appropriate. Thank you for your discernment and for helping me to clarify what was needed.
Wendy
Comment from jmdg1954
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Faith. He does test us, but for good reason. He tests us to the point he knows we can handle. I also believe that if we act irrational and continue to do what we know is wrong, he will back away and let us fail.
I've been to both places with him.
Nicely composed and please stay the course.
John
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Faith. He does test us, but for good reason. He tests us to the point he knows we can handle. I also believe that if we act irrational and continue to do what we know is wrong, he will back away and let us fail.
I've been to both places with him.
Nicely composed and please stay the course.
John
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you John for your review and thoughts. Greatly appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Ginda Simpson
This story is well written, clear in the sequence of events, and powerful in its message. What a timely read this was for me as I put into writing what the spiritual journey has been as I navigate life after my husband's diagnosis of PSP, a rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. My faith lifts me up each day. Thanks so very much for sharing this story. I look forward to reading more of your work.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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This story is well written, clear in the sequence of events, and powerful in its message. What a timely read this was for me as I put into writing what the spiritual journey has been as I navigate life after my husband's diagnosis of PSP, a rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. My faith lifts me up each day. Thanks so very much for sharing this story. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you for your super review, and particularly for the six lovely stars. Greatly appreciated. I am a Palliative Care Volunteer and one of the ladies I looked after had been diagnosed with a very similar neurological disease to PSP. Hers was Cortico-Basal Degeneration, which had some similarities with PSP and also Parkinson's disease and fronto-temporal dementia. She was in her forties, the youngest in Australia to be diagnosed. I am so sorry to hear your husband has PSP. It will be a long and difficult journey, but with God's grace, and His help and comfort, I am sure that you will both draw ever closer to Him.
(By the way I wrote some stories in about January about a few of our experiences in Saudi Arabia. I hope to read more of your writing about your time and experiences over there too. I just looked you up and found your wonderful story!)
Blessings to both you and your husband.
Wendy
Comment from Karyn2
Wendy what a heartwarming read! It is ways so encouraging to read or hear the testimony of someone who has lived and experienced God's faithfulness. We so often think that God's faithfulness can be seen in the good things in our lives and that may be so but I love how your story reminds us that God's big picture isn't finished yet. Some of us may be waiting for our happy ending to our troubles but GOd is still at work, "working all things for the good of those who love him" sometimes we just have to hang on a bit longer and trust we will see in time.
Wonderfully written. I praise God with you!
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reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Wendy what a heartwarming read! It is ways so encouraging to read or hear the testimony of someone who has lived and experienced God's faithfulness. We so often think that God's faithfulness can be seen in the good things in our lives and that may be so but I love how your story reminds us that God's big picture isn't finished yet. Some of us may be waiting for our happy ending to our troubles but GOd is still at work, "working all things for the good of those who love him" sometimes we just have to hang on a bit longer and trust we will see in time.
Wonderfully written. I praise God with you!
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Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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You are right Karyn. He is at work during the "bad" (our perception) and we don't know how He is weaving it all into His overall plan. But we can trust that He knows each detail beforehand, and permits it for some higher purpose. Thank you again for your super review.
Wendy
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Oh my goodness Wendy this is such a tragic story and I am glad it had a happy ending. We never know what's around the corner and we have yet to understand all the diseases in the world as some of them are rare and are overlooked. Thank goodness you sought advice elsewhere and you were cured and your sight was saved. We learned more about you here, you are a brave soul, love Dolly x
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reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Oh my goodness Wendy this is such a tragic story and I am glad it had a happy ending. We never know what's around the corner and we have yet to understand all the diseases in the world as some of them are rare and are overlooked. Thank goodness you sought advice elsewhere and you were cured and your sight was saved. We learned more about you here, you are a brave soul, love Dolly x
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2022
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Thank you Dolly for your super review. Much appreciated. Yes, we don't understand things at the time, but I am sure I have become a more compassionate person through these experiences, and there were other "coincidences" (God-directed) also, but I was limited to 500 words. Thanks again.
Wendy