“….from WITHIN, out of a person’s heart, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality…”
(Mark 7:20-23 NLT).
“ …the thief cometh….to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10 KJV).
“...Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour...”
(1 Peter 5:8 NLT).
“...Satan disguises himself as an
angel of light...” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NASB).
"...your father the devil ...
was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because
there is no truth in him ... he is a liar and the father of lies...
(John 8:44 NASB).
“...What you have said in
the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in
the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs...” (Luke 12:3
NASB).
“...you may be sure that your sin will find
you out...” (Numbers 32:23 NLT).
*
Gemini was in heaven.
She and Brad were having a long romantic, honeymoon period in their marriage.
Their bond and intimacy was greatly improved. They had talked, prayed, played,
and trusted God until their marriage was showing signs of spiritual health.
Falling in love with
Brad Patterson again was AMAZING and she only had eyes for him. It was easier
to say “...I love you...” to him than
ever before.
They both were putting
ALL they had into the relationship and they were on their best behavior.
It was a period of
euphoria and it was like they were meeting each other, again, for the first
time. Everything they did, together, seemed special and endearing.
They talked openly with
a honesty they didn’t have before. She talked about her indiscretions, but Brad
wanted no details. He talked about mistakes he’d made. He admitted he treated
her like eye candy and not like a cherished woman. They both apologized and
promised to do better.
The future looked
promising and they felt like a real
married couple for the first time ever. They had a clearer picture of each
other’s flaws and shortcomings. They were starting over with a more realistic
perspective of their covenant relationship.
Gemini admitted she
didn’t think they would be able to survive her indiscretions and he didn’t
either, but he said his faith empowered him.
They both admitted the
trust between needed to be restored, especially on her part. But Brad said he
wasn’t completely without fault, because he had not shared everything with her
either. He admitted he was caught up with ministry and didn’t give her the
attention she deserved. He said he never truly appreciated her for the woman
she is on the inside.
They both wanted to try
to make their relationship better and decided not to give up on each other.
Brad loved her and Gemini realized he loved Brad too.
Brad always told her he
liked her looks, but eventually all he talked about was her personality. It really
bothered her, because all she thought she had was her looks.
Gemini was gorgeous and
she was a little conceited about it when Brad first met her. She was young and
knew she’d nailed him with her looks, but she acted like her looks was all she
had. It make her feel invisible when
Brad stopped being in “awe” of her looks. She didn’t think he thought she was
as good-looking as he did before.
All these years, she
thought Brad was losing interest in how she looked, but she was wrong. He
admitted he was attracted to her for her looks, initially, but he changed. He
said she didn’t change and treated him as if he was only after her looks long after
they were married. He tried to show her differently, but she didn’t see it and
after a while she lost interest in him.
As they begin to restore their relationship
Brad talked about what a kind heart she had and how he loved her brilliant
mind. Gemini realized Brad still thought she was gorgeous , but for an inner
beauty she didn’t appreciate herself.
Brad had always paid
attention to her when she looked a mess or when she didn’t.
Her lovers called her
“hot” or “sexy” but Brad called her “intelligent,” “humorous,” “nice,” or “supportive.”
He complimented her for WHO she was, personally, to him.
In their romantic times
together Brad didn’t just want to sleep with her, but sometimes he would hold
her, in his arms, all night or he would, sit quietly, next to the fireplace,
simply holding hands with her. They would take walks together and go for a ride
to some unknown place to see what they could discover. Gemini didn’t SEE Brad’s
love as clear, because of her OWN vanity.
She couldn’t grow past
the flirty and exciting stage of relationships. Her beauty was power and she
controlled men with it. She still wanted to be, just, the beautiful woman who
wanted to have fun or have her way.
Her lovers wanted to
talk sex, most of the time, but Brad asked about her, her day, and her
well-being.
Brad’s mother and
sisters were extremely gorgeous women too, but he treated them with respect.
Brad described them as smart, kind-hearted, thoughtful, good cooks, and great
people His mother, was his heart. He boasted about what a loving mother she was
and still is, but he also said she was a brilliant educator.
Brad’s eyes didn’t
wonder, like most men, and when he did compliment another woman it was heartfelt. As a
Christian leader, women were always in his face, but he was chronically loyal
to her and to his family.
Brad Patterson was
always “IN” the relationship with her, but she wasn’t always “IN” the
relationship with him.
Brad openly presented
her to his family, friends, co-workers,
and anybody else. He was transparent and didn’t have anything to hide. Gemini
was somewhat closed and secretive.
Brad was only taking certain
blame for the mistakes, in their marital relationship, for her sake. He wasn’t
perfect, but he hadn't done, to her, what he was claiming he did. Brad was ALL IN, from the beginning, of their marriage, and he
hadn’t changed. If anything, Brad had become a better man than he was before.
However, no matter how wonderful
Brad was being to her, Gemini knew her adulterous ways had hurt him. She
CHEATED on him. She broke the sacred trust between them over and over again,
deliberately and on purpose.
Though they were
working on putting their marriage back together, trust had been loss. This was
the hard part for her. She couldn’t forgive herself for shattering Brad’s world.
This was the crux of her sin. Now trust needed to be repaired if they are to
truly salvage the damage she’d done to their sacred, covenant relationship.
As a professional
therapists, she knew the restoration of trust, was a MUST for healing their
marriage.
She’d come clean. She
was being honest and transparent about everything, but it would take time
before they could take giant steps in order to move forward.
Whether he admitted it
or not, trusting her again, was a challenge for Brad. Gemini was doing
everything humanly possible to be honest and demonstrate her sincere desire to
restore the relationship. Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy and it wouldn’t happen
overnight. She had to be consistent, truthful, and accountable.
One thing she was doing
is being brutally honest with Brad. She
didn’t go anywhere or do anything without telling him. Brad said she didn’t
have to do that, but she wanted to, because she loved him. She knew God was the ultimate HEALER, but she prayed for God to empower her to do her part too.
Gemini had a day off
and was going to get her nails done. She texted Brad the time and the place.
When she wanted to be pampered she spent BIG money, but when she was in a hurry
she went to Wal-Mart, which was most of the time.
She and Brad were planning a
Norwegian Cruise to the Bahamas and they’d been talking about it for weeks. She
couldn’t wait to go. They planned to sit around the pool, work out, go to the spas, eat lavishly, go to
karaoke, go to concerts, plays, eat, drink, be merry, and act absolutely silly!
Brad’s mother was
coming to stay with the children and it would be just the two of them, alone,
and as Smokey Robinson sings. “cruising
together”
Gemini’s nail appointment
wasn’t until the afternoon and she decided to meet, her sister-in-law, Brigitte
at The Village of Waugh Chapel. She texted Brad and told him she was at the mall with Brigitte. She
wanted to go into Pier 1 Imports, one her favorite stores, and see what was new.
Gemini wasn’t a big
shopping Mall person, but Brigitte was and she enjoyed going with her. The
Village of Waugh Chapel had a large variety of stores to look into and they had
Pier 1 Imports. WOOHOO!
Brigitte looked at
electronics, household goods, clothes, and shoes. She touched, tried on, put back, and
bought the merchandise.
Going shopping with
Brigitte was truly an adventure. It gave them time to socialize and have fun at
the same time. They always ended their outings with lunch at the Food Court.
There were times they would go the movies or into one of the arcade centers.
They were both grown women who liked to do silly things, together, to unwind.
Brigitte and Gemini
didn’t like to take everyone with them, because they didn’t like to do ALL the
things they did. They sometimes stayed to listen to live music, or stopped to watch
a cooking demonstration, or joined a craft workshop in progress, and afterwards
they might even visit a nearby farmers market.
It was always a “shopping
mall party” with the two of them. They found adventure where others did not.
They claimed they loved the decorations, smells, specials, and the excitement
of the crowds, especially during the holidays!
Gemini, especially,
liked the one stop shopping convenience too. She planned to stop by the bank
before they left. She spent a wonderful few hours with Brigitte. They shopped,
had lunch, and then went their separate ways.
Brigitte was a teacher
and had teacher’s conferences later that after noon. Gemini headed to Wal-Mart.
Why is Wal-Mart’s parking lot ALWAYS
packed? She had to park way in the back. She sat in her car for a few
minutes putting her make-up back on. When she opened her door, there HE WAS in
living color!!
“...OMG, what are you doing here, Simon!...”
He raised his hands to stop her reaction.
“...I’m sorry, Gemmy, my brother, David, just
died. I needed to talk to someone...”
“....Oh Simon, I’m sorry to hear that. Really I
am, but I can’t talk to you right now...”
“... Can we go somewhere. I promise I just want
to talk...” Gemini was hesitant. She really didn’t want to do anything to
mess up the relationship with Brad. They were working too hard. She didn’t want
to have to keep any secrets from him. “...Please
Gemmy...” Simon said. Gemini still didn’t
move. She didn’t want to have anything else to do with Simon even if his brother
had just died. “....Look, we don’t have
go anywhere. I can get into your car or you can get into mine. I just want to
talk, THAT’S IT, and then we can go on our separate ways...” She didn’t
want to listen. She didn’t want to open any door for Simon, at all.
“...It’s been months, Simon and you promised....”
“...I still promise. My brother just died,
Gemmy, have a heart...”
“...I’m sorry, Simon, I can’t. I need to know
that whatever else happens and no matter how serious, you will keep your
promise. I can’t be there, for you anymore in any capacity. I’m sorry. It is
over between us...” Simon started crying.
“...Never mine...” He turned to walk away
and she heard him start to cry.
“....Simon, stop. Okay, we can talk. Where are
you parked?...” Gemini followed Simon to his car, but she was pissed at his
intrusion in her life, especially after he promised not to bother her. She didn’t
feel welcoming at all, since she didn’t ever expect to run into him in Gambrils
of all places.
As Gemini got into the
passenger seat, Simon got into the drivers seat. He reached over and got a
piece of cloth from the glove compartment and wiped his eyes.
Next, he took a water
bottle from the cup holder and dampen the cloth. Gemini asked, “...What are you doing...”
Before he could answer
the cloth covered her nose and mouth. Five seconds later she was out like a
light. “...Stay alert! Watch
out for your great enemy, the devil...”
(1 Peter 5:8 NLT).
“...Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light...” (2
Corinthians 11:14 NASB).
“ …the
thief cometh….to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10 KJV).
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