By Kirsten Lovett
Before we married, Elijah promised I would be his only wife. He was hesitant, as we are called on to have many children. I told him I would bear him twenty children, but I would not share him.
He broke his promise. First with Eden, then Camdyn, then Kaidence. We lost Eden to pneumonia, Camdyn to pregnancy complications, and Kaidence to a fatal allergic reaction. After so much tragedy, our congregation likened Elijah to Job being tested by the devil.
The devil had nothing to do with it. The Lord was working through me to help my husband honour his promises.
First, this short piece is well written. Second, the story has the three main components for a good story – beginning, middle and great endings.
The ending got to me because my initial thought was that the ending was a little harsh on how the Lord works, but as I thought more about it I realized the story was not about my thoughts the story was about a – wife’s thoughts about promises made. The confusion on my part was the wife’s agreement to have 20 children. But, I get your point… life is complicated.
I Like this story – and the implication wife extracting retribution by eliminating her rivals.I have to think further about the use of the name Elijah- given his biblical importance as a miracle worker and the defender of the Jews from the corroding influence of Baal, none of which id suggested in this story. Would be interested in hearing from Kristen on her choice of names.
Good story. I’d give it a 90; a little more subtlety at the end would make it 100.