There are still good men out there

Dear Pastor,

I am writing to you for your help. I am 45 years old and I read your column very often. I am a Christian and I am active in church. I do not have children.

I got married, but my marriage did not last for very long. I was single for a long time.

I dated until I found a man who was serious about life and he began to help me financially because when I met him, I was in debt.

I was behind in my house payments and things were going very bad for me.

I fell in love with this man, but there was a problem. He was not a Christian. He had children and I don't have children. This man promised that he would start coming to church. He kept his word.

He came to church every Sunday with me. Then he committed himself to the Lord and he joined the church. He helped me to pay off the back money I owned on my house and other debt. I considered him a God-sent man.

I was concerned about how my pastor would treat my problem, but he was very understanding. We went to counselling for months, and then he decided that he would officiate at our wedding.

The members supported us. After getting to know this man, he is a real gentleman. We work hard. He has a good job and I have a good job. Sometimes he gets home before me and he cooks and helps in house chores.

Now, both of us are very active in church. I am writing to you because I want to tell women in my age group not to be discouraged or to give up because their husbands have left them.

They should trust God, put him first, go to church, and don't throw themselves around with every man who may invite them out or promise them material things. I did not take money from men.

I did not tell them my financial situation until I met this man and we were serious about each other. I trust my husband and he trusts me.

Pastor, keep up the good work. And I give a big shout out to all those who have been reading the column and praying for you.

R.C

Dear R.C.

I am so glad for you. I am always happy to hear from persons who have been married, divorced and remarried and to know that life is beautiful for them the second time around.

There are those who are quick to condemn people who divorce and remarry. Some make such a big issue of it by saying that it is a terrible sin to

remarry if you are divorced.

They say that anybody who has been divorced and has remarried, and the person who they were married to is still alive, is living in adultery.

But, I say without apology, that God is a God of second chances and sometimes life can be

sweeter the second time around.

So whether it was the man who was at fault or the woman, if God is at the centre of one's life, a couple can develop a very sweet and happy married life.

You haven't said what caused your divorce and I suppose that whatever it was, it was painful.

But thank God your present husband has pulled you out of debt. So, give God thanks for him.

I want to say that I appreciate what your pastor did for you. He did not condemn you. He helped you by embracing not only you, but the new guy, and he counselled both of you and he welcomed this guy into the fellowship of the church.

I am sure your husband was encouraged by the attitude of your pastor and the congregation. I wish both of you many years together. My prayers are with you. Don't give up on God.

Pastor