IIHHN,
This thread is for you.....I didn't really address this specifically to you, as I hope others will find this useful as well.
I was thinking and praying this morning.......don't know why you came directly into my brain. But you did. So, of course, I say a prayer for you.........then God starts "talking" to me - in my mind. He reminds me about a conversation I had last night with a friend of mine. She "knows" about God, has taught in a parochial school, etc. Is she saved and going to heaven? I can't know that. She doesn't act like it, or spend a lot of time w/God. But she is open to spiritual conversations, and loves to hear "my story," the ups and downs, the newest events, etc. It is someone I work with, so she gets to see the turning of events up close and personal. She's getting very excited about seeing how God is going to heal my M, and bring my H back home. She now praises my faith (which really tests me, as deep inside, I know I really have very LITTLE faith!!!), and waits eagerly for the day the Lord does heal my M.
OK, so after our conversation, and I was realizing that God IS using me, as I've asked Him to do, in my conversations with people like her. I was praising HIM for using me to be a testimony through my trials.......
Then I started thinking about YOUR situation, how hopeless it often looks to you........somehow God brought another analogy into my mind.
I was thinking about how horribly your W can talk to you, or act towards you sometimes. God said to me, " What if instead of a sick, spiritual condition, what his W had was a sick, terminal physical condition?"
What if she was the sick one, instead of her dad? HOW would IIHHN act towards her physical condition??? How would he act if she threw up every 12 seconds? Would he yell at her? Would he want to leave the room? Would he be depressed b/c she couldn't go play baseball? (OK, a little extreme, but I think you're seeing my point).
Gen, your W is SICK. She's spiritually sick, but the outward manifestations of it aren't really any different from a physical sickness!!! SHE CAN'T HELP ACTING THE WAY SHE IS ACTING!!!
I just think if you were to see it that way, instead of looking at a personal attack on YOU every time she speaks, you could show a lot more compassion. I think God is waiting for you to LOVE her to Him. Love her just the way she is in her spiritual condition, realizing it's no different than a physical condition.
Why not try this for a little while? Every time she "goes off" about something, simply pray and tell God you KNOW she is "sick" and you will pray for her to get well.
Are you in? Can we all help?
God Bless you, my brother.
