Article January 14, 2008 Issue

JOINED TOGETHER IN LOVE

NAME WITHHELD

EVERY WEEK I drive a long distance to work, and I regularly stop at a rest area partway through the trip. When I get to that rest stop these days, I all but jump out of my car and sing my thanks to God.

There was a time, though, when something as simple as getting out of a car was difficult and painful. Through prayer, I eventually came to see that the pain and immobility that appeared to rule my body were only outward expressions of the anger and conflict that troubled me concerning some important relationships—including my marriage.

Two people in my family life had wronged me and never apologized for it. I felt that I'd done many kind things for them, and I couldn't understand why they treated me so unkindly. I justified my anger toward them by arguing that I had always apologized when I'd done something wrong, so why couldn't they? Over a two-year period, I didn't allow these individuals to enter our home.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

CONVERSATION ON OUR LIFE TOGETHER