The
Good Report
Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what soever things are of Good Report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:811
A Good Report:
The Silhouette
It was a late summer evening. Everything appeared normal. If you listened, I'm sure you could hear the crickets chirping a lullaby, the wind blew gently rocking the trees asleep, and inside you could hear the soft snores coming from the family dog, Jack.
This story begins in a periwinkle room, with my eleven year old sister Renae, fast asleep. You might be thinking, "so the story your about to tell me is about you sister sleeping
??? As many odd sleeping habits as she might have, (I'll spare you the stories!) This story holds more excitement then just an ordinary night.
Renae's dreams were interrupted when she suddenly awoke. She opened her eyes her gaze wandering over to the window. She froze, her body tensing. She lay perfectly still not daring to move, as a mysterious shadow in form of a man walked by her window. As soon as he had passed she threw off her covers and fled the room, running up the stairs at a speed that would impress an Olympic runner. Once at the top, she bravely peeked out the window to see if the man was still there. To her surprise she was met by headlights backing out of the driveway. Now she had one goal in mind: go tell Mom and Dad! She quietly tiptoed into the bedroom, and gently tried to wake up her Mom, but with no success. Still disturbed, she refused to go back to her room alone. Deciding that her sister Kristen was the next best option, she quietly crept into our bedroom.
"Kristen! Kristen" Renae whispered urgently. Kristen groggily and Renae told all that had just happened. Kristen listened, but was to tired to do anything about it. She didn't realize that Renae was frightened, and offered to let her sleep in our room. It didn't take much convincing, and soon Renae was bringing all (and I mean ALL!) her stuff into our room. None to quietly either! This is what woke me up. I lay asleep when this rustling in our room woke me up. It was dark and I sleepily call out, "Jack?"
"No. It's only Renae."
"Oh." Was all I said. I was tired and I flopped back down on my pillow. Then my brain woke up and started asking questions. "Renae, what are you doing?" I asked both curious and annoyed. Renae once again told the story, while I listened. She came to the section of the story about the shadow, and I had a hard time believing her. Could she just have been dreaming? I thought. Was this only a figment of her imagination, simply a result of playing one to many Nancy Drew Detective games? Still I listened quietly, now somewhat skeptically. "Then I saw this car with headlight backing out of the driveway!" She said. All my doubts were washed clear from my mind. So maybe it's NOT a dream! I thought, feeling slightly guilty I doubted her. When she finished the story, I am embarrassed to say that all I could mutter was something like, "That's creepy." And then offer her my bed to sleep in. She declined. Poor Renae was becoming exasperated. As for me, I once again flopped back down on my pillow and tried to go to sleep. Then all of a sudden it clicked. The story became a reality, as I realized what had just transpired. "Renae," I whispered. "What time did it happen?"
"At 3:20."
"What time is it now?"
"3:30." My heart started to beat a little faster. That was on;y ten minutes ago! This guy could still be around! You're probably thinking that it took me long enough to figure everything out. Renae thinks so too, but I hold fast to my defense that it was still extremely early in the morning. And at least I did eventually do something about it, which is more than some people can say.
"Renae?" I whispered again.
"Yeah?" she said
"Lets go make sure all the windows and doors are locked!"
"Okay!" She quickly agreed, relief evident in her voice. I leaned over to flip on the lamp.
"Don't turn on the light!" Kristen screeched.
"Um...why?" Renae and I ask in unison.
"Because! Just turn on the hall way light!" She said annoyed.
"Okay..." I said, slighlty amused.
Together, Renae and I checked all the doors, and much to our relief they were locked. The Windows were a different story... The blinds were pulled shut, and in order to check if they were looked or not, we had open the blinds. All Renae and I could picture was opening the blinds and coming face to face with the intruder. Common sense, was NOT on our side that night, because none of os doubted that Renae had said that she saw him drive away, so technically he couldn't be there! So I, being the brave older sister that I am said, "Renae....you check first!" We debated about it for a while, and I now I can't remember who did end up opening that first blind. After the first window was checked, the rest suddenly felt safe, or less scary anyway. Once we were assured that nobody could enter our house, through window nor door, we felt we should try waking up Mom and Dad again. Amazingly, the second time trying to wake them was much easier then the first. As soon as we told them both Mom and Dad did get up. Dad did eventually walk aroud the house to scope things out. I never would have found the courage to do that! Dad came back, not seeing anything, much to our immense relief! Since nothing else could be seen nor could be done we went back to bed. Renae still wanted to sleep in our room, and I didn't argue.
Sleep didn't come easily for eitherone of us that night. Kristen, however, didn't share the problem. Before we had gone to bed Dad had told Mom and I that the man (I have secretly nicknamed him "Shadow") had to have been pretty close to our house to cast a shadow. I wisely kept that information to myself until morning. Renae was already spooked by every sound for about an hour. I admit my my imagination was working pretty fast too!
Finally, I closed my eyes waiting for that sleepy sensation to overwhelm my thoughts and turn them into dreams. It never came. Hard as I tried I couldn't ignore the fear that screamed through my thoughts. Now I see my problem. I can't calm the fears that rage within me, only One person can. That One is Jesus.I remember reflecting on Gods promise in Psalm 34:7.
"The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear him, and He delivers them." When I was eight or nine I used to imagine angels in little red tents camping out in our yard. That night though, my mental image changed. Now I envisioned fierce, warrior angels standing guard, spears in hand, ready to protect us from any threat that came near our dwelling place. To this day, I have no idea why the "Shadow" walked by our house at 3:20 in the morning. Was his intent evil? Or was it simply and innocent act? I can't help but wonder what made Renae wake up at that exact moment he walked by? Was it the Holy Spirit's promting, to stop this trespasser by any motion he may have seen? Or was it the devil's idea of trying to scare us?
Psalm 91:5-6 says, "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor if the destruction that lays waste at noonday." I have complete trust that God is always protecting us, and we don't have to be afraid of anything. I believe that God protected us that night, and maybe just maybe if the shadow's intent was evil God showed him one of the angel's standing guard by our house. If that's the case then I am confident of this. The Shadow won't be back.
By: Emma Luecke
If you have a good report please tell me in your comments. ( Don't give me your good report) Just tell me you have one! Then message me the rest.
WARNING:
Please try to keep you GOOD report short!!
Thank you!!
-Claudia-
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