Life Lessons 101: Let Them Go!

Bewildered, dazed, and confused Erica slowly made her way back to her car.
The drive home seemed longer than usual giving her time to think about her life. She felt as if her life was truly over this time. Over a ten year period she'd done all she knew to do the make her marriage work. She and her husband had accepted Christ as their savior and soon after joined a local church, they'd been to Christian counseling, and even attended a few couple retreats. Still, they argued. He never hugged her unless he wanted sex, and she never uttered a word of encouragement to him not even when she knew he needed it.

So what made today any different from any other day? Joe, her husband, had asked if she could do lunch today. He said he needed to talk to her about a mutual friend of theirs. Pleasantly surprised Erica happily agreed to meet him at one of their favorite restaurants. They met, sat down and ordered the usual. The conversation was somewhat strained but no more than usual. Finally Joe blurted out the words no woman wants to hear, "I'm leaving." "I've been unhappy for a longtime now and it's time for Joenell and I to find our own happiness." At first she thought she was just hearing things. Maybe she was having a nightmare and only thought she was awake. "Surely he didn't say what I think he said.", Erica said to herself. "Joenell! You mean my friend Joenell?", Erica exclaimed. "I'm sorry Erica, but surely you must have known this day was coming.", Joe replied with amazing calmness. "It's no secret to anyone that this marriage isn't working.", Joe spouted as he grew increasingly louder. " You never support anything I do, and I don't feel you respect me at all, but Joenell does. I want out!", he exclaimed. Joe threw down some money for the check, glanced back at Erica, and walked out.

Erica fell into a deep depression. It wasn't long before self-pity set in. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and still her life was no better. Her parents were dead, she had no aunts or uncles, no brothers or sisters and no real friends. Erica felt alone, frustrated, and confused.