Honesty prevails in the end

“Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.”

-- THOMAS JEFFERSON

I searched for just the right quote for today’s column on honesty,

and found it interesting that in one of my books, “Honesty” comes

directly after “Home,” and right before “Honor.”

The woman I wanted to write about was honest about what was

occurring in the her home, and God honored her for seeing the truth,

telling the truth and then also for making some changes.

On the outside, the woman looked perfectly put together. But the

minute she spoke and shared from her soul, I stopped seeing her for

who I thought she was, and instead, listened to what God had done in

her life.

As she shared her story, there was radiance around her, as if God

were glowing through her. I’m sure God must have been smiling,

because she was honoring him in her honesty, and encouraged those of

us who heard her to stay close to God as well.

She is a young woman with young children, but she lived through

some terribly dark and depressing years. She said she was raised in a

family that believed in God, but he did not become a personal part of

her life until she was older. Before she was married, she was

involved in an unhealthy lifestyle with alcohol and drugs. She was

headed toward disaster, but saw that God worked in creative ways to

protect her from others, as well as from herself.

She later met and married a wonderful man and enjoyed several good

years, years that included buying a house and having children. Having

so much responsibility for little people and feeling no time for

herself, she said she became despondent and extremely selfish and

emotionally detached from everyone. She admitted that she chose the

wrong path to find happiness, a path that led to extramarital

affairs.

“I felt like a total slave to sin, caught up in the world and

pursuing fleshly desires,” she said, “I was miserable and I knew deep

down in my soul that what I was doing was so wrong, yet I couldn’t

stop.”

Her husband found out the truth, and she found herself at the

lowest point she’d ever been in her life. She was ready to leave her

loving husband and children, when she felt God calling her back to

him.

“I know God had me in his hands and that was why he revealed the

truth when he did.” She said. “God knew how close I was to making the

biggest mistake of my life.”

God worked through people, as well as a church service, to help

the woman and her husband rededicate their lives to God. She also

attended a rehab center, which gave her needed help and healing, as

well as the desire to seek God and his counsel. She talked to God,

prayed to him and knew he was with her.

Since then, she and her husband have repaired their marriage and

are dedicated to living and raising their family in God-honoring

ways. She was brave to share honestly about painful chapters in her

life, but in doing so, she encouraged us to listen to and follow God,

and choose to live lives of light instead of darkness.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.