The Future Looked Sunny But a Storm was Brewing
Shortly after Lance was born, I felt a tug, a spiritual yearning like something was missing. I became curious. I wanted to know about Christian Science, so I read. Eventually I invited a lady to come talk with me about it. She practiced Christian Science, but didn’t really clarify much for me. I’d read The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale as a young adult and it had a powerful effect on me. After Treva’s birth using the Lamaze Method, I felt strongly that our mind is extremely influential in our lives.
I frequently read Guideposts and was intrigued by the personal stories. Years before Mother, a Baptist, had mentioned that she thought she could be a Presbyterian. And since that was the denomination that Bob and his parents were associated with, I began to take the children to a small Presbyterian church in town. I really liked the pastor and his messages. Of course, Bob did not attend with us.
Bob was working long hours. Tension developed between him and Don. Bob asked me to go talk to Don and see if he would clarify the problem. I did. All Don would say to me was, “If things don’t change, someone will be looking for another job.” Specifics would’ve been helpful . . . or maybe not.
A secretary had been hired. Cassie drove a sports car and wore braless sun dresses to work. A friend of mine whose husband worked at C&D came to the house to tell me, “Cassie is after your husband.” I didn’t want to hear it.
Early November 1979 Don fired Bob, giving him only the business they had opened in Houston.
The following Sunday Bob decided to attend church with us. He thought it was interesting that the topic of the sermon was on “Ownership.” And that we don’t really own anything. We are just passing through this world.
“Have I told you today how much I love you?” Bob would say every night as his head hit the pillow. I had to trust him. Trust became more and more difficult as he and Cassie were going to Houston together every day.
The night he didn’t come home, I made a midnight call to the man he was supposed to have had dinner with. “No,” he said, “He and Cassie left about 9:00.”
The next day he and I went to Galveston for some time alone together. It didn’t help.
He moved out. I was completely devastated.
Name It & Claim It Religion
I forget who suggested I attend a small home Bible study. When I got there the others were eager to talk with me. They opened a Bible to Matthew 18:19-20 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (NLT). So, if we agreed they told me – Bob would return home and our marriage would be repaired. Even in that moment, I knew something about this wasn’t right. This Name It and Claim It gospel was popular in some circles. It really messed with my mind since my greatest desire was for my marriage to be healed and healthy again.
The next Sunday I spoke to our pastor at Trinity Presbyterian about this and he quickly reminded me that every person has a free will.
I was seeing a counselor who suggested I attend Cathedral in the Pines, which I did. Cathedral was a much more full-gospel church than any I had ever attended. I liked the music and the atmosphere. They welcomed me with open arms and asked me to assist with the Christmas cantata.
The next episode will post in two weeks.
I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon. My Website.
gailshowalterblog.com 