Photo by Dương Nhân
Janet from Kansas
Her load was heavy. Seldom shown.
The truth, to many, disbelieved
or unknown.
Stones of lies, laid one by one,
Upon her back. “Desire conceived” ¹
had begun.
“Am I crazy? Am I to blame?
Something’s terribly wrong!”
(What a shame.)
Wounds like arrows, in this new game
Brought tears, confusion,
anger, pain.
Desire grew to sin, then sin was full-grown. ¹
Her husband’s unfaithfulness—
now clearly shown.
“No, I’m not crazy.” (The truth can be cruel.)
“He just doesn’t care that he’s breaking
love’s rules.”
The straw that broke the camel’s back
Gave her the resolve
she previously lacked.
One last abuse, so heartless and low,
Gave her the courage
to let go.
Janet is free. Her divorce is final.
Different challenges abound, in her
“new normal.”
A covenant shattered. His Lord disobeyed.
Her family wounded.
His re-made.
Now all the wiser, no clichés feigned.
Battered faith survived; though dreams
were re-arranged.
Yes, there is healing the Savior brings.
But, scars have a way of
changing things.
James 1:13-15
© 2018 gratefulsue
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I met Janet (who was from Kansas) while on a missions project over-seas. I never would have met her otherwise. As I got to know her and her sons (also on the missions trip), I was appalled by what she had been through with her now ex-husband. Detailed lies and cover-ups of his affair eventually deteriorated into openly expecting Janet to accommodate allowing this woman in her home before she and her husband had even separated. Sadly, Janet’s church did not believe her because her husband was such a good liar. Eventually, however, and after much suffering, the truth became plain. “The truth will set you free,” Jesus said. And, it did.