Today I’m grateful for the wonderful relationship that I’m in. I may have been grateful for this in the past but what I’m most grateful about it is that he is willing to walk with me through my Bi-polar disorder.
So you can understand why this is such a big deal let me share a little of my history with you. I was married once a long time ago and my husband never asked questions regarding my disorder, or did much of anything to try and understand me. He did however bring a lawyer to a hospital I was at, under the guise of a “friend of the family, helping my ex make some decisions”. I thought that he was a psychiatrist or therapist so I answered all his questions to be of help to my ex. I thought this would help our relationship and he would better understand me. I was way off base. His plan was to see if I could be institutionalized. He ran from my disorder and wanted nothing to do with me, so the marriage eventually ended in divorce, since I wasn’t fixable.
That pain, hurt, betrayal hit me hard. I thought that I was permanent damaged goods that no one in there right mind would want to have anything to do with me. So I resigned myself to being single the rest of my life and believed it was preferred as Paul mentions I believe in Corinthians.
God saw things differently He decided to bring healing to that area of my life in the form of the most amazing man from my past. I had cherished his friendship always but something caused us to loose track of each other. I now believe it was God’s providence. We had the basis of a wonderful friendship but it wasn’t the right timing for more. While we were apart I kept praying that God would bring a man like him into my life. I missed getting the male perspective on things. Twenty years I prayed hoping God would one day answer my prayer and He is so good. He didn’t give me a man like him He gave me the original.
He has always been compassionate, man of God, Godly leader in the relationship whatever form that took, a gentleman, knows me well, but now I’ve noticed that he really pays attention to me and has insight to me. He also works very hard to understand my disorder and assures me that he isn’t going anywhere. Those two things alone make me so grateful for this relationship that I’m nearly bursting with joy. He also warns me that there will be times when he gets frustrated with the Bi-polar disorder in not being able to understand it. That’s comforting to me in two ways; 1) I don’t have to worry that it’s me personally that’s got him frustrated and 2) It’s a human thing, I get frustrated with this disorder as well.
Waiting 22 years after my divorce to find the perfect man for me was well worth the wait and all the work that had to be done in preparation for it. If you find yourself newly single can I give you some advice and words of encouragement. Don’t rush into anything. Give yourself a chance to heal. Give God time to work. And always hold out for God’s best for you, you’ll never regret it.
Joy – A Fellow Sojourner & A Woman After God’s Own Heart!
Joy's Words of Encouragement 
Love you Sonshine! And you are right- I am not going anywhere. You are stuck with me!
I’m so grateful to be stuck with you! Just the idea of that brings laughter to me and joy to my heart! Love you so much!