Quit Being Afraid of What Others Think
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him for my misery. To make matters worse, I felt ashamed and guilty about it all. After all, weren’t good pastors’ wives supposed to be cooperative and content? Still, I got to the point where I was so miserable that I didn’t care what anybody thought of me. I no longer cared if people saw me as a “bad pastor’s wife” or a “bad Christian.” I wanted out. It has been said that a person who has nothing left to lose becomes the most powerful person on earth. I was now that person. I started attending another church the The hard next week. truth was that As I look back, I am deeply sad and the primary embarrassed it took me so long to finally problem take action. The fear of what others might was me. think paralyzed me for years. Monumental Quitting the church was only the first things inside small step toward true freedom in Christ. of me needed The problem, I would learn, was not ultito change. mately the church, Pete, the congestion of New York City, or our four young children. The hard truth was that the primary problem was me. Monumental things inside of me needed to change.
Looking to Others to Tell Me “I’m Okay” Unwittingly, Pete and I had become like emotional Siamese twins. We were joined at the hip in an unhealthy way. I wanted Pete to think and feel as I did; Pete wanted me to think and feel as he did. He thought I should feel the anguish and passion he did for planting a church in
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