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

How many times has a sweet one said to you…..”But I vowed for better or for worse”.  “I stayed because I vowed to God and all those witnesses till death.”

I have been married 3 times. Yep, 3 times.  My first husband was a preacher’s kid so I thought what could go wrong?? I loved him, he loved me……then it started. The mental abuse, the very little but it was there physical abuse.  Friends would say why do you stay. Because I said for better or for worse.  Moved me 2000 miles away from my family so they could not influence me.  For better or for worse.  It just continued to get worse 2000 miles away, in Seattle, from my family and my support. There is more to this – jump ahead a few years. We were home to Illinois for Christmas. I was in the kitchen with my mom and younger brother. Brother looked at me and said, “We are taught in church there is a heaven and there is a hell. Nowhere does it say you need to live in hell.” 6 Months later I left. Had to hide, but I left.

Married my second husband, had a son. We went to church, having our son and going to church I thought had changed him. Came home for dinner one night on a late shift and my son was in bed crying. I pulled the blanket back to hug him and help him sleep and there were welts on his legs.  Husband had friends over at the time, I walked out of his room and said, “What the hell did you do to my son? If you ever touch him again I am gone”. Several months later I gave him the choice it was either me and your son or your drugs and drinking.  You can tell his answer as I am now living back in Illinois.

Third husband had no clue what he was getting into with a blended family.  We have been married 17 years and there sure have been days but days were worked through together, with God we’ve worked through them together.

-Pam

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.