Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Happy (07/12/07)
-
TITLE: A Search for Happiness | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jacquelyn Horne
07/18/07 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“But Nan!” Sarah was exasperated. “No one can make you happy. It has to come from within.”
“Don’t give me that ‘happiness is a state of mind’ talk. If he were the man he should be, he’d find a way to make things better for me. I can’t stand it anymore. I’m going to leave him.” Nan stated clanging her coffee cup into its saucer.
“But what about your children?” Sarah asked. “What will they think?”
“Andrew and Matt are married with lives of their own. Sally is living in New York City and furthering her political career.” Nan offered. “They’re all pursuing their own happiness. Surely they won’t want me to remain in this unhappy situation. They’ll understand how bored I am with this unfulfilling life.”
“But what will you do? Where will you go? You’ve never held a job or had a formal education. You’ve been pampered all your life!” Sarah reminded Nan.
“That’s just it,” Nan declared forcefully. “There’s a whole world of discovery out there for me to explore. I’ve got to find myself. I’m out there somewhere,” waving her hand toward the window.
“But you don’t even know what you’re looking for!” Sarah sputtered. “How can you find happiness in chaos?” She was about to give up, but knew that saving a marriage was worth all the effort she could employ.
Sarah conceded enough to say, “Have you told Robert yet?”
“No, he’s been gone with the mission’s group from church. I think he knew that something was wrong when I wouldn’t go with him, even though we knew that Sally would be gone to New York by the time we left.” Nan grabbed another donut and absently stirred her cold coffee.
She was nonplussed by Sarah’s obvious perplexity. She began to stammer and justify her feelings. “We just don’t have anything in common anymore now that the children are grown. They were our whole life. Now there’s a void, at least for me, and I need to fill it with something.”
Sarah decided to pursue a different approach. “Have you prayed about this?” she asked.
“Yessss,” howled Nan, raising her hands in exasperation and rolling her eyes in annoyance. “God understands my need. I thought for sure that you of all people would understand. After all, you were divorced from your first husband. I just want a little space to search for happiness like you and Tom share.”
“I’m happy now, Nan, because I let the Lord take control of my life. When I surrendered it all to him, he brought me stability and happiness. That’s when I met Tom. Tom didn’t bring me happiness. Happiness in the Lord brought me Tom.”
Sarah continued while she had Nan’s attention. “God has given you Robert. You’ve had three wonderful children together. Robert is a good husband. He loves the Lord and he loves you, Nan. Don’t throw all that away because you’re at a turning point in your life.
“You say you’ve prayed, but what did you pray? Did you decide what you wanted and ask God to give it to you? Or did you ask God to show you His will in it all?”
Sarah must have hit a nerve, because Nan hung her head and began to cry. Sarah placed her arms around Nan, holding her close. She knew the frustration that Nan felt. I’ve been there she thought. But I made the wrong decision. God, she prayed silently, Please help Nan make the right one.
The two women sat in silence for a while, each pondering her own life and pursuit of happiness. They prayed together before Sarah reluctantly left Nan alone with a promise to be in touch soon.
Alone with her thoughts, Nan began to search her heart. God, help me, she cried. I want to do what’s right, but I want to be happy too. Show me the way.
Nan folded her arms on the table and laid her head down on them. Her eyes closed, she recalled a scripture she memorized in her youth. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”*
Nan felt the wonderful presence of God, and although there was still a long way to go, the healing process began.
--------------------------------
*Psalms 37:4
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.