phone call from SA member

[Honeybee12]

I received a phone call this afternoon from an old friend from the SA church. She invited me to a sale tomorrow afternoon.

She is from a similar background on many levels and stepped in as a mother figure when my mom died. Her father was also an alcoholic, her parents are from the same region of Europe as my parents. The similarities are endless.

I've really been praying about my experience and wondering if God is mad at me for leaving and if He's mad at me for staying away. I will call this woman back tonight and I dearly hope that this phone call will bring some healing.

I ran into this woman at the same sale last year and she encouraged me to come back to the SA church, stating that the pastor's wife had changed and the pastor's sermons were getting so much better. I mentioned that I was really hurt there, and she agreed with me and said she knew of many others that were hurt there as well. It still felt scary and creepy to think of being part of that church again.

I hope this conversation will bring some healing and something new. Would you all be praying for me in this? I'm not scared. I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks everyone.

HB12

[Ellen]

I've really been praying about my experience and wondering if God is mad at me for leaving and if He's mad at me for staying away.
HB12

Oh, Honeybee, God is not mad at you! He is not dependent on your behavior or where you go or don't go, what you do or don't do, for his happiness! He is God and He loves you like crazy! He wants to honor and protect you. His thoughts toward you are patient and kind and generous. He is FOR you, not against you! Please, please, please know this.

Ellen

[Jerry]

Dear Honeybee,,,,
Yes,,,,,,maybe they have changed,,,,,,,,,how much have YOU changed ????


Love Jerry

[Honeybee12]

Ellen, That's just so encouraging. Thanks so much for what you wrote. It's so hard to come to terms with the possible truth that I just may be where God wants me. Because I'm not being hurt, shot-down, talked-at.. I feel that something is wrong.

Jerry, I thought to myself while debriefing after the phone call.. that I've changed so much because I didn't let this person talk at me and if she did I was ready to take a deep breath and stand up for myself. Then I thought, wow.. I've changed SO much since I left four years ago. I've grown up a LOT.

Then I read your post this morning and felt really validated!

The phone call itself went fine. I was calm, confident and felt like she and I were on even ground. Towards the end of the conversation I couldn't help but ask how it was going at the SA church. She said the sermons were good, but people were still leaving because of the pastor's wife. But then sometimes those people come back. I wonder if we're all gluttons for abuse?

Sounds to me like not much has changed there.