Epilogue

[MadeToSucceed]

Catching up on your thread today Telemark.

MTS, I have read your story; didn't realize you've changed your screen name.

I felt it was needed. Give myself a new direction of sorts I suppose. Help me remember everything I need is within me by virtue of He who is in me...just have to access it. Easier said than done, but doable nonetheless.

I did just finish reading No More Mr. Nice Guy. Every page I would stop, shake my head and say to myself, "That's me. To a T". I think the title should be No More Mr./Mrs/Miss Nice Person, because I could also see my W there very clearly. If you have not read this book, buy it. Read it. Even if you think you are the world's biggest prick, there will be something in there to use.

If someone told me one year ago that this is where I would be today, I would have had them committed.

I can't help but laugh at your last sentence because I say that to myself each day. I have that book too but I've yet to read it. I know, from what's been described to me, that I'm "THAT GUY" to a T as well.

There was nothing in our marriage that could not have been healed with honesty and open communication. But it was easier for her to run away than face the work that had to be done. It will be only a matter of time until her new love life sours, too, and the cycle will repeat itself.

Perhaps I will now be able to look forward more than I look back. I am sad that she was able to cut me out of her life so effortlessly, but I have been blessed with a growing relationship with God, great kids and great friends; that sustains me.

Unfortunately this is all too common in our sitches and in society as a whole today. Thankfully we are in this world but not of this world. A friend of mine sent me to 1 Peter 3:8-17 last night...check it out but I focused intensely on the later portion of that chunk of scripture:

...Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.
Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ. You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong.

You're acting honorably Telemark and that will be honored in the long run. We all reap what we sow, sooner or later. I think it is common that we each have the goal of trying to sow as much good in our sitches as possible. You have to take comfort in the fact that your good will be rewarded in the form of fruits...just sometimes takes more time than we'd like for that fruit to grow and be ripe for the picking.