Healing Hope

Complimentary Story

   It was a slow erosion of a once great love relationship. It was a series of “mini crises” that grew as an “elephant” in the marriage. What remained were deflated emotions and depleted energy to fight for the relationship.
   Then he made the call. It was the husband who courageously, desperately reached out to his pastor for help. The pastor wisely referred this husband and wife to a trained, Christian marriage therapist. Maybe it wasn’t too late….
   This therapist reminded the couple that God gives each of us “two pieces of glass” -- a “mirror” and a “window.”  The former is for self-examination…and the latter for two-way understanding. This counselor also gently reminded this husband and wife of Jesus’ words from Luke 6 --
   “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, “Friend, let me help you get rid of the speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (vss.41-42, New Living Translation).
   The couple was given a homework assignment.  Each was asked to take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle, and write at the top of the two columns -- SPECKS and LOGS. This exercise would serve two purposes -- (1) To give the counselor a fuller understanding of what the real concerns were; and, (2) To give the couple a chance to write out their perceptions of what would need to be addressed to find renewed hope for their marriage.
   This exercise proved to be a turning point in this couple’s relationship. Each honestly uncovered the “SPECKS” and “LOGS.” Each spouse also gained a deeper understanding of what the other party’s perception was of what was deflating to the love in their marriage. With the help of the therapist, an open discussion took place that began to reignite hope…a healing hope.
   What took place was an atmosphere for humble repentance and confession. Centered on Christ, there was an openness for forgiveness and healing. There was an understanding that, with Christ as the Model, “for”-“give” means -- “‘For” you I “give” full love again.”
   This began the journey back to the intimacy they had experienced in the past. Christ had brought healing hope to their lives of on-going love! With time, this couple began to mentor other couples who also needed to find healing hope. 

 

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