Prayer

Well, as I am sitting here writing this blog, Mark is about 3 hours away from Minnesota. We talked most of the night, it was great. At one point he was going to pull over and get a couple hours of sleep, he was exhausted. So, I told him I'd call him in 3. I called back almost 4 hours later and he had this discouraged sound in his voice. I asked him if he slept, he said no. I asked him what was wrong and he said "I can't hide anything from you!" Well, he then started to tell me all about a conversation he had with Rene. I sat there and listened without saying a word. Listened to him tell me how she ripped him apart yet again. How he was a horrible husband, horrible man, never did anything for her except made her stay home and raise the kids and not give her any attention. Then she proceeded to tell him she wants him to go to her house when he gets in town, she said her boyfriend would be there, but that he's ok with Mark being around! She wants him to take the kids for the weekend because her and her boyfriend are having a party! Now, I have to say, there are two sides to every story, but I know both sides of this! Yes, Mark made some mistakes in his marriage to Rene. But, he was anything but a horrible husband, man etc. He was very attentive to her, the most attentive man I've ever seen! His biggest downfall? He worked too much. Why? Because she always needed something and had thousands of dollars worth of unnecessary medical bills! So, I spent the next 2 hours building him back up. I told him that I knew first hand that none of that was true! I told him that I lived life with him and he was anything but a horrible man! We talked a lot about God and I explained that I thought this was going to be the perfect time for him to get plugged back into River Valley Church starting Sunday! This church is where Shayne and I attended when we lived there and also where Mark got saved 13 years ago!! He agreed. I am so angry with this woman, I'm angry with her for tearing this man down! He DOES not deserve it! I have never understood why people insist on hurting other people "just because" but I think I have come to understand that when a person is miserable with themselves it just comes naturally to tear other people down and invite them in to their misery! She needs the Lord in her life, at one time she had a relationship with Him but she never let it grow in the right way.

I explained to him that he has so many people that love and care about him, people there too. And that he needs to surround himself with those people who will build him up instead of tear him down! I have learned in a great way that who you surround yourself with defines the direction your life goes!

Mark said he's been saying little prayers the whole way there. Asking God for wisdom. When we got off the phone at 4 this morning, I prayed for him. I asked God to give him courage and strength, I asked Him to show Mark that he IS capable of this journey. Mark is going to pull over just before he gets to town and we are going to pray together. So I am searching my heart for the right words to say, for what to ask for exactly. I have peace about this whole thing. We are more meshed together than ever before and I am so grateful for that! Please keep this whole situation in your prayers. Thank you! We love you all!