an olive leaf

I was in a pretty low place when I wrote my last post, and I'd like to share a little update... It really started last week Sunday night, when Eric finally had it out with his dad. If I'm honest, this has been coming for a long time; their relationship has been strained for years and years. And I'm not sure "strained" really describes it, but for simplicity's sake, we'll stick to that. After some really inappropriate actions by his dad a couple weeks ago, Eric felt convicted about talking to him about what was going on.

The conversation hurt to hear. I can't even begin to describe what it's like to listen to your father-in-law telling your husband that he's unloved and worthless.

Words like that come from a bitter heart. After the sermon we heard that morning based on James and controlling the tongue, I knew I couldn't do anything but pray for a change of heart. How can you control your tongue if your heart is full of hatred and resentment? And that's what we did all week. We prayed.

I think about Noah's story, and how hopeless his family must have felt after enduring the seemingly endless storm aboard the ark. After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the waters covered the earth for 150 days, according to Genesis 8. Not to mention that everything they'd known had been destroyed. Noah sent out a raven and then a dove, hoping that they would return with some sign of life, but both came back with nothing. A week later, Noah sends out the dove, who finally returns with an olive leaf. Hope.

That's what the Wednesday night phone call was for us. Breakfast on Friday?

Eric met his dad for breakfast. He apologized for some of the hurtful words he had spoken, and he started to make an effort toward making things right. While things are far from resolved, we're taking baby steps in the direction of change. The door is finally open for conversation.

Eric told me last week that restoring relationships is a lot like fighting cancer. Things may get a whole lot worse before getting any better. But what choice do you have? You either fight for it, or in relationship-terms, a part of you dies. I think he's right. And I'm so glad he's chosen to go after it.