This was really eye-opening to me. I have read several of the books written by Bob Steinkamp, from the Prodigals Perspective....they have really helped me to better understand the big picture. I pray that you will look into these books as well and receive the wisdom and the knowledge that the Lord has made available to us.
WHAT PRODIGALS THINK
Charlyne and I remember how difficult all holidays, such as Labor Day was for each of us, in different ways, while we were divorced. I want to give you some "insider information" on what your spouse may have been thinking yesterday on Labor Day.
We think about how happy we could be with someone else.
We think about how our mate nags us (but that is not really true).
We think about how to leave home without hurting our spouse.
We think (and act) tough, otherwise this thing would kill us inside.
We think like a teen-ager again.
Strange, but we think about how to mold that other person to be just like the mate we are walking out on.
We think about right and wrong, and about God, and we justify what we are doing.
We think about sin.
We think about sex.
We think about our spouse.
We think about being single, (yet that seems so strange).
We think about being trapped by that other person.
We think how we hope our kids never do what we are doing.
We think how foolish we are.
We think about holiday family times from the past.
We think how much we wish that other person would just go away.
We think about death (and about Heaven and Hell).
We think how disappointed our family must be in us.
We think how disappointed our Heavenly Father must be in us.
We think about going home-so simple, yet so complicated.
We think about the mate who is praying for us and things seem OK.
We think about talking to someone about going home, but we never do.
We think about being with our spouse when we are with someone else.
We think we heard from God (but probably not, the way I am living.)
We think about home.
We think about wanting just to hear our mate's voice and laughter.
We think about praying, but feel too guilty for God to ever listen.
We think we heard from God again.
We think how we could go home. It seems so simple now.
We think about that message we are hearing from God, in a hundred ways, over and over and over again.
We think how much our spouse has changed and wonder if it would work.
We think about how unhappy we are in a counterfeit lifestyle.
We think we heard God tell us to go home!
We think about being forgiven by God and a loving and standing mate.
We think we just heard the mate that we once trashed say, "You are welcomed here." (Your home will never look better than on that day!)
We think less and less about that other person (but it takes time).
We think how God could use us some day to keep other couples out of the mess that we survived.
We think how grateful we are for a mate who would not forget us and, "get on with your life," as everyone is suggesting.
We think about our right relationship with Jesus Christ.
We think that our mate wrote the book on forgiveness.
We think (and we know) that being at home, loving the Lord and a covenant mate is pure joy.
Regardless of what you were seeing or hearing, someone you love was thinking about you this Labor Day weekend.
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
WHAT PRODIGALS THINK
Charlyne and I remember how difficult all holidays, such as Labor Day was for each of us, in different ways, while we were divorced. I want to give you some "insider information" on what your spouse may have been thinking yesterday on Labor Day.
We think about how happy we could be with someone else.
We think about how our mate nags us (but that is not really true).
We think about how to leave home without hurting our spouse.
We think (and act) tough, otherwise this thing would kill us inside.
We think like a teen-ager again.
Strange, but we think about how to mold that other person to be just like the mate we are walking out on.
We think about right and wrong, and about God, and we justify what we are doing.
We think about sin.
We think about sex.
We think about our spouse.
We think about being single, (yet that seems so strange).
We think about being trapped by that other person.
We think how we hope our kids never do what we are doing.
We think how foolish we are.
We think about holiday family times from the past.
We think how much we wish that other person would just go away.
We think about death (and about Heaven and Hell).
We think how disappointed our family must be in us.
We think how disappointed our Heavenly Father must be in us.
We think about going home-so simple, yet so complicated.
We think about the mate who is praying for us and things seem OK.
We think about talking to someone about going home, but we never do.
We think about being with our spouse when we are with someone else.
We think we heard from God (but probably not, the way I am living.)
We think about home.
We think about wanting just to hear our mate's voice and laughter.
We think about praying, but feel too guilty for God to ever listen.
We think we heard from God again.
We think how we could go home. It seems so simple now.
We think about that message we are hearing from God, in a hundred ways, over and over and over again.
We think how much our spouse has changed and wonder if it would work.
We think about how unhappy we are in a counterfeit lifestyle.
We think we heard God tell us to go home!
We think about being forgiven by God and a loving and standing mate.
We think we just heard the mate that we once trashed say, "You are welcomed here." (Your home will never look better than on that day!)
We think less and less about that other person (but it takes time).
We think how God could use us some day to keep other couples out of the mess that we survived.
We think how grateful we are for a mate who would not forget us and, "get on with your life," as everyone is suggesting.
We think about our right relationship with Jesus Christ.
We think that our mate wrote the book on forgiveness.
We think (and we know) that being at home, loving the Lord and a covenant mate is pure joy.
Regardless of what you were seeing or hearing, someone you love was thinking about you this Labor Day weekend.
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
