“God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve or punish us for our failings." ~Psalm 103:10
Mutual friends brought them
together on a blind date. He was
attractive, fun, and thoughtful. She was
smitten. They both wanted big families. George Soete proposed in the backseat of a
car and following a six-month engagement, she said "I do."
That big family came quickly. A daughter arrived just before their first
anniversary in 1965. Three more girls
followed roughly two years apart. The
couple thought their family was complete at four, but they welcomed their only
son nine years later. A fifth daughter
rounded out their crew two years later.
To casual observers, they were a happy couple. But with six children, it's difficult to put
your marriage first. Soon neither was
investing in the other.
A few weeks after their 20th wedding anniversary,
George told his wife he wanted a life with a woman Cassie considered a friend. Cassie wanted no part in the divorce. She meant her “I dos, until death.” She’d never give up on their marriage.
He kept his word.
Then, he died in her arms in 2015.
His sudden passing opened a new chapter for Cassie to start
ministering to widowed persons, sharing in the journey and challenges as a
single senior.
To this day Cassie vividly recalled one phone call from a
young woman shortly after she and George had reunited. “Please tell me how you did it," the
woman begged, trying to fix her marriage. "I’ll do anything, anything.”
“Well, would you be willing to give 4-and-a-half-years of
'maybe he’ll come back, maybe not,'” Cassie asked. The woman answered curtly, “Absolutely not!”
“Well, hey, you asked for my advice," Cassie remembered
telling the woman. "You don’t have to do it, but all I can tell you is what
works and what doesn’t.”
Never underestimate the power of the God of second chances. But He doesn't envision His forgiveness
stopping with Him. You probably will
sooner or later if you don’t need a second chance right now. Remember, love is always open to second
chances.
