Feeling a little ambitious today with three prompts for the price of one: Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneer’s photo prompt (100-word story), Sammi’s 13 Days of Samhain (“The Cheek of the Devil”) and Thursday’s Six Sentence Story (“Structure”). Enjoy!
Word/Sentence Count: 100 words/6 sentences; Genre: Fiction
The Structure of Things
“Mom, that lady was rude and you just let her walk without telling her off!!”
Ruth considers her outraged child.
She picks up the broken glass structure at her feet, says quietly, “I’ve always taught you to turn the other cheek, haven’t I? Someone’s got to be the first to take the hate, stop it from spreading, and I can, because Christ gives me that power.”
“But Mom, if you keep turning the other cheek, it just keeps getting bloodied!”
“Like our Master’s on the cross, and whose cheek would you rather have, Christ’s or the cheek of the Devil?”
Matthew 5:38-45:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Dreams from a Pilgrimage 
Good question at the end. May we all desire to have Christ’s cheek.
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In principle, yes. But sometimes you have to stand tall.
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We do need wisdom to discern the right times and the seasons.
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ambitious today with three prompts
The cheek of the devil: that line came out so smoothly in this example. I like it—great message in there. Great writing. Dora!
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Thanks for reading, Selma. 🧡
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Thought provoking…good job.
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Thank you kindly, UP.
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Beautiful story, Dora. Thanks so much for joining in with 13 Days of Samhain 🙂
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Thank you, Sammi. Your prompts are magnetic!
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Dear Dora,
Welcome back! That’s a tough one, isn’t it? Fortunately we don’t do it alone.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You’re so right. We don’t do it alone and we’re given the wisdom (if we ask!) to judge each situation appropriately. I am glad to be back, thank you! 🙂
Aleichem shalom,
Dora
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Well done, Dora! I’m not well versed in the Bible, but I have the feeling your giving of the mother the name Ruth has significance.
~Susan
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Susan,
So glad you caught that! Ruth has always been a role model to me of the many women who are in the Bible, a model of humility and love and selflessness, as the church, individually and corporately, ought to be. It’s no wonder she ends up being David’s, “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” great-grandmother and one of Jesus’ in the flesh. Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.
~ Dora
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I’ll take any and all biblical explanations you offer! Much needed context. Thank-you, Dora.
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You’re welcome! Thanks for asking. My allusions aren’t always clear, well, the way I intend anyway. 🙂
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I think judging those times when we should take the hate and those when we should stand up to it is one of the hardest challenges we face as humans. Love the relationship you show between mother and daughter here.
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Thank you Jen! You’re right, of course. Not getting carried away and losing our tempers much less our minds is difficult, especially these days, politically and socially, when there’s so much hate going around. May God give us wisdom to discern.
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Yes, excellent point, someone needs to break the circle of hate.
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If we all do our part, how much more peace there would be in this world!
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The mother is a beautiful example. It’s not always easy to do as Jesus says, especially when you are young and more impetuous.
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You’re right of course. It’s difficult no matter our age. Perhaps starting young may make it more of a practice than not. Thanks for stopping by, Mimi.
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For many, revenge is a natural reaction. Though wise, turning the other cheek is not always that easy and does nothing to discourage the perpetrator from continuing in their disagreeable way. A thought-provoking piece indeed.
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Thanks, Keith. Too true that personal revenge is the natural reaction and to deny it is far from easy. To be restrained and judge rightly when to seek justice or provide it to the defenseless is the better part of valor. For which we need the wisdom of Solomon!
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Nicely said and a wonderful parable. To me, it says don’t sweat the small stuff and learn when to not turn the cheek. Jesus certainly didn’t in driving the money changers out of the temple.
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Thank you! That’s it exactly. And with our Lord providing the strength and the wisdom, it’ll be to His glory and our eternal good.
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a wise mother indeed.
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I agree. Thanks, plaridel!
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It is important to stand for what is right. It is even more important to learn to let go of pettiness. I really enjoyed this piece.
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Good to hear. Thank you, Linda! Hope you’ve been well.
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I understand why the mother is giving her child that lesson. There have to be other ways than violence to respond. I hope she teaches her to handle those emotions in appropriate ways, even as she turns that cheek. Good story based on Biblical teachings, Dora.
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Glad you liked it, Lisa. Thanks for reading. 🙂
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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An excellent take on the prompt.
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Thanks so much Alicia.
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So powerful story of a conversation we adults also think about!
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Since we are more responsible for the world as it is, we should be thinking about it constantly!
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Yes!
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Well done for incorporating all three challenges, multi-tasking at its best!
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Thank you Heather! It was fun to see if I could make it work with what I had in mind. 🙂
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