DailySusan Humor Blog

WHAT SHE READ ON THE BEACH

God also bearing them witness,
both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will. . . .
— Hebrews 2:4

I have this neat friend who tells an amazing story that may be a comfort to others who get divorced, and then wonder if they did The Right Thing.

The Bible says divorce is only OK if adultery is involved. Even then, you’re supposed to do everything you can to save your marriage.

Well, years ago, my friend was the mother of four, with a big problem. She was terribly unhappy. She agonized about getting divorced.

She was only a teenager when she got married. Because her own home had been dysfunctional, she’d had very little guidance and didn’t communicate well. Deeply unhappy, she numbed herself, drowning her emotions in unhealthy ways.

Finally, her husband chartered a sailboat down in the Caribbean. He had a pretty good idea how she felt. This was their chance to get away, once and for all, and make some decisions.

There was a skipper and his wife. The four of them enjoyed the azure skies, white sands and crystal waters. One afternoon, they looked up and started discussing cloud shapes.

Suddenly, my friend experienced what they call “hyperfocus.” She was mesmerized by the surrealistic images she saw in the clouds.

She saw a basket, and out of it came a genie. The genie turned into a snake. Gradually, the snake turned into a dove of peace with an olive branch in his mouth.

She swears she wasn’t going crazy and there were no drugs or alcohol involved. All four agreed that those were the shapes they were seeing.

She thought, but didn’t say, that it was a “storyboard” for her marriage.

When she got married, she thought it would be the “magic” that would make her happy. But she was wrong – and she had married the wrong person. There was fear in her marriage, and deception, and mistrust . . . like the snake.

But the dove in the clouds was a sign of peace. She was struck powerfully by the thought that everything was going to be OK.

She didn’t say a word about any of this.

But when her husband stood up, he fell right back down.

He stood up again, and fell right back down again.

She, too, was floored – literally.

“It was as if the energy and life had been sucked right out of him,” she said. “He was realizing that he couldn’t be who he wanted to be.”

Next morning, he threw his wedding ring over the side. Again, no one said a word.

She crawled up to the top of the boat and dove off into the shimmering, clear water. She saw that the coral formed a distinct shape:

A cross.

Her heart nearly burst at what it represented: Forgiveness. Understanding. Peace.

She saw a glimmer down on the bottom, and dove to investigate. It was a gold necklace, stamped “Italy.” A piece of treasure, there for her especially to find.

A gift – another sign – that she was God’s treasure. Though her future was hidden from her now, He would make sure she discovered it, and ultimately was blessed.

The real treasure was the reminder that, with God, there is liberty and grace for us, no matter what. Of course He doesn’t want us to break our marriage vows. But if it comes down to sink or swim, if we’ve tried our very best and still can’t make it work, He doesn’t want us to sink.

He wants us to swim.

She took that risk. She got that divorce. She dove back in to life.

Now, she says, “I never would have believed that my life could be so incredible. I have a great life. This is where I’m supposed to be.”

She’s remarried. He’s her perfect soulmate. She and her ex handle the child-rearing responsibilities admirably. The kids are all doing well. They all get along.

It’s all OK.

Just as she knew it would be – because of those signs she read on the beach, written with all-powerful love, by the Author of peace.

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Praise report: We rejoice over answered prayer in the miraculous recovery of an in-law’s father, who had to be air-ambulanced from an Alaskan cruise back to a hospital in Lincoln, with a poor prognosis, but he’s doing well. (July 1 prayer request) Thank You, Lord Jesus, for blessing this family with Your healing power. (Isaiah 30:18)