I was married young, have raised my five sons, have prayed for my husband to return from Viet Nam, have been married to him and divorced from him not once but twice. I have been a survivor, but not a conquerer.
Three of my sons and their father recently became Christians, and as I listened to them talk about this wonderfully loving relationship they have with the Lord AND with each other, I realized what my problem has been all these years. I was empty inside. Empty of heart, empty of soul, empty of spirit.
I remembered going to Mass as young mother and bringing my sons up in the Catholic church. Why didn't I hold on to what little faith I had then? I had now reached the point where I was so weary and so broken, and I knew of nothing that could remedy my situation. And so I went to my ex-husband, who was visiting our second oldest son, and asked him if he would pray with me. I had nowhere else to turn but to the Lord. Jerry prayed with me, and I felt a spiritual renewing that went far beyond the words he was saying. I knew that the Lord Jesus was right in there in the room with us, wanting to heal my broken heart, longing to fill my empty soul. I stood from that prayer a new woman in Christ.
With Jerry and I now Christians, we are going to give our marriage another try. This will be the THIRD time I have been married to Jerry, but the first time to know him as the man of God he is now. I know that will make all the difference in the world in our home. Today Jerry gave me a card with a poem entitled "Marriage Takes Three", and oh how true that is. We have to keep Christ first in order to have a marriage that lasts through any situation. And I would like to end my testimony with that beautiful poem, which I will carry in my heart for the rest of my life. It is true for marriage, but also true for any situation -- without the Lord Jesus, we are powerless. Keep Him first in your life, wherever your life is right now.
For not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter,
As lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.
But marriage seldom thrives
And homes are incomplete,
Till He is welcomed there
To help avoid defeat.
In homes where Christ is first
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.
