How are you different now than you were five years ago?
I am not as social or have the desire to get out and do and be with people. I tend to want to stay home and am comfortable with that. I do miss the socialization to a point but to get out and interact and put myself out "there?" No. My sewing blog and typing on here is good.
How have you grown?
I haven't. You asked, I am being honest. I went through a valley the past five years that I've NEVER faced EVER in my entire life since becoming a christian and it changed me. I slipped. I stumbled. I lost. On the other hand, I learned some solid truths that NO MAN can take from me. Ever.
What important things do you know now that you didn't know then?
I'm loved by God. Unconditionally. 24/7/365.
I'm His and it don't matter what another says, I'm His. He's got me and is well able to keep me.
I'm forgiven because of the blood that flowed from His side at Calvary.
What flaws in your character have you improved or mastered control of?
Well, can I say I saw a few things bubble to the surface and didn't like it and am letting God help me with it.
Grace-Like-Rain, I was happy and hopeful and looking toward a great future, expecting great things from God. I had healed from the loss of a spouse (2001) and after seven years opened my heart to love again (2008). Only that love was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He converted or so he said, came to the United States, only to reveal that he hadn't let go of his muslin ways or thoughts or mindsets. He confessed that he used the marriage to gain entrance into the U.S. and to obtain citizenship. He was a habitual liar and smoked. He would not pray or study the Word of God in our home. I was not treated as an equal nor was I loved or respected as shared in the Word of God. My world crashed. I went from something so beautiful (my husband that died) to something from the pit of h.... I cannot articulate and really don't want to on the board what all I went through. Was legally released from that relationship December 2012. I am rebuilding...both spiritually and emotionally.
I have, since coming on this site, witnessed of the goodness of God and will continue to. I have shared about my faith in God and will continue to. My faith in mankind got shaken. I got exploited financially (talking 1,000's of $ here, folks), emotionally and yes, physically. Learned some hard and very tough lessons in this relationship. But at the same time, I have also become grounded and rooted in what I believe in God and for that, I am thankful. Bible tells us to seek out our own salvation with fear and trembling and I have and am.
I'm not quite up on the mountaintop yet, but I can see the peak and looking down the valley seems very tiny. I have worked through my anger towards this man and I can look you in the face and say in my heart I've forgiven him but I don't want him back in my life. Nor will I ever consider someone else outside my own country again. Outside my state, yes. My own country, no.