This is a continuation of a series every Friday where I will be highlighting the growth and healing of one of my readers, a new reader each week. These, my sweet ones, are their brave and vulnerable stories. Take heart…you are not alone. -Elisabeth
It all started with a pomegranate, a pomegranate and a stack of chocolate bars. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be standing here, in front of a man who was willing to turn his life upside down to take care of me and my three not-so-easy children. He handed me a stack of chocolate bars to stock my tiny, one bedroom apartment, fridge and a pomegranate because, he said, “pomegranates are fun to eat.”
My thirtieth year was not exactly what you would call “thirty, flirty, and thriving.” It kicked off with a miscarriage and rounded out with the diagnosis of a variety of special needs for two of my children. Smack dab in the middle of that I discovered my (ex) husband had been having an affair for about a year. He chose to continue in that relationship and we divorced. That news hit me like nothing ever has. I truly thought I was going to die from the heart break. The betrayal and rejection were painful enough, but knowing how my children would suffer felt impossible to me. I thought there was no way anyone would want a divorced, 30 year old, single mother of three (very difficult) children. I guess God knew some things I didn’t.
Back to the pomegranate. Little did I know there was a man God had perfectly planned to love and take care of me and my kids at the exact moment we needed. The woman my ex-husband had been having an affair with was engaged. That man showed up for me, to take care of me, and help me, though he owed me nothing. It was through the most painful thing I’d experienced that God gave me the greatest blessing I have ever received.
A few short months after giving me the pomegranate, he gave me a ring, and we just celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. He has faithfully provided in every way for me and my children, allowing me to care for their extra needs in a way that would have never been possible without him. And while God was redeeming my family’s story he was redeeming by new husbands heart, as he came to know God in a deeper way than he ever had before. We always joke that he saved my life and I saved his soul, but really, we both know that it was God who saved us both.
-Carly
If this sweet woman’s post resonated with your heart, please know that you are not alone. Here are a few resources for you:
If you would like to join one my private Facebook groups (difficult marriage, separated/divorced, single moms, remarried), please email me at elisabeth@elisabethklein.com.
If in a difficult marriage: Surviving in a Difficult Christian Marriage is available as a PDF/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books
If separated/divorced: Unraveling: Hanging onto Faith through the End of a Christian Marriage is available in paperback/e-book: http://tinyurl.com/phowp95
If a single mom: Moving on as a Christian Single Mom is available in paperback/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books
If you need a nudge in your healing, I would love to work with you! Join me for one of my mentoring courses.
If you’d like to receive my free resource “Is Your Healing Halted?”, sign up here.
What a beautiful story. God is so good.