Erick wrote; Whatever sin has overtaken us as young men and women, will be taken into our adult life. Sin isn’t something that we “get over” or “grow out of.” No, that type of thinking will keep us captive to sin and hold us captive in our chains. So, I took this anger into my marriage and it would be 17 long years into the marriage before being “set free” from its grip. I cannot tell you how many times my anger would be out of control, there are simply too many to count. And unfortunately, my wife is the one who received the brunt of my rage. It would always work the same as it did that first day on the driveway with my brother.
Sylvia wrote; The love of Jesus started in my heart at the age of 12. He gave me such a joy and I knew He loved me for who I was.These first many years was such an amazing time in my life to trust more and grow deeper in faith. I started praying for my husband at all times of the day, every time he entered my mind, I would stop and say a prayer for him. These were really tough days for me, I am not going to lie. Christ never left my side, His word is true when He says, “I will never leave nor forsake you”. Deuteronomy 31:8. I had left my family and friends out of this chaos in my life because I knew if I told them, they would despise my husband and I didn’t want anyone to not like my husband, whom I loved, I knew that the judgement would come down on him and that would have been added heat we didn’t need in our marriage. My husband has a lot of good qualities about him that I enjoyed and loved, we did have more deposits than withdrawals. I am reminded how much Jesus is patient and forgiving with me, therefore I was not going to give up on my husband. He was a lost soul who needed a Savior, who needed deliverance, he deserved forgiveness and to be loved unconditionally just as I am through Jesus Christ’s precious blood. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I am so humbly grateful that my Savior carries me through every storm, defeats every weak moment with His amazing strength, wipes every tear followed by an encouraging word, gives me peace in the chaos, calms my anxious heart, is my rock and cornerstone when I think I am crumbling and is the lifter of my head many times over.
Erick wrote; My wife and I would argue much over the years and I would explode time and time again, (feeling the temperature of my youth rising) with rage and anger towards her. Of course all this rage and anger was united with the most intense and vulgar language you could think of. I am writing with tears as I recount all the evil I have poured out onto my precious wife Sylvia. But it all came to an end when my wife and I were praying desperately for our oldest son. The Lord used the trouble of our oldest son to drive us to our knees, crying out for help. Looking back now, it's as if the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and said, “it's you, not your son.” Wow, what a wake up call. My oldest son was threatening my life and threatened to have me murdered and there were times I would have to wrestle the guns out of his hands.
Sylvia wrote; I knew if I gave up on my husband, he would have had no one. He needed prayer. I knew he loved me and our children, he just needed deliverance from his selfish anger. I continued to pray for my husband while I was sitting, standing and lying down. Our great amazing Savior was moving mountains I couldn’t see, He was working in my husband's heart in places I had no idea. Not one prayer was left unheard. Year after year, as I was being washed by the blood, cleansed by His Spirit and forgiven much, my heart became more like Christ and it became easier to love my husband with the wordless gospel. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to carry out His purpose and do so superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams, according to His power that is at work within us.”