Key to Happiness?
An almost divorced couple shares the insight on how they got their lives back.
Greg & Julie Alexander and Family visiting the Sisters |
Greg and Julie Alexander had been married about 10 years. They couldn't stand the sight of each another. They couldn't even be in the same room together. In seeking an annulment, a very wise priest asked them if they had studied the Scriptures on marriage. Admitting that they had not, they went home and began to pray together, and the Holy Spirit came to help them. Greg will admit that even after he had a conversion during this time of searching, he still had a laundry list of things that Julie had to change before he could be "happy" or love her again. Interesting. How many times do we have a list of things in our minds and hearts that we would like other people to change, and then we'll be happy?
Greg made his first "good" Confession in 35 years. He was able to make a general Confession, letting go of every way in which he had offended God through his entire life. After Confession, the laundry list for Julie disappeared.
What does this mean? It means that if we can work on our relationship with God, our relationships with those around us will be healed. We will no longer have unreasonable expectations for those we love because we are now better disposed to love them unconditionally.
Side Note: Fr. John Corapi will be speaking in San Antonio to hellp raise money for the Alexander House on August 7.
Check out this website for more details.
Second Side Note: The marriage coaching ministry of the Alexander House can affirm that out of the approximately 1200 couples they have worked with, only around 20 have gone through with divorce. Greg says you have to be willing to do the work. The good news is that God does most of it if hearts are open and willing!
