Opposition Can Bring Rewards

Jason worried about his wife, Penny. She spent too much time on the computer. He had a gut-feeling that she was gambling again, this time on the internet. He had moved his family from Vegas two years ago to keep her out of the casinos. Luckily his internet marketing business didn’t care where he lived.

Jason needed to confront Penny, but he hated to do it. He wanted to believe everything was okay. He had tried to check the credit card balance, but the password had been changed, and he couldn’t get into the account.

He went to the credit union the next day and put a stop on the card.

That afternoon when he left his office in the back of the house, Penny was waiting for him outside the door. “There’s something wrong with the credit card. I can’t get it to go through.”

Jason rubbed his chin. “I’m in the middle of a big job. I’ll sort the card out in a day or two.”

Penny’s jaw tightened. “No, I need it now.”

That night Jason and Penny fought over her gambling. Penny moved out and left him with the children.

Jason was devastated, but he found a therapist and began to work through his own problems. 

After several months Penny lost her job and couldn't pay any of her bills. She had ‘bottomed out,’ and wanted to come home.

By this time Jason was strong enough to tell her she had to make some changes. Penny was willing. She found her own therapist and attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings. She found another job and made arrangements to be responsible for her debts.

The couple struggled for several years, but worked out their problems. At present they have been married forty years.

Jason says of their time together: "The opposition has been difficult, but we know the joy of success because we fought through hard times."

Penny says, "Since we've known trials, we're grateful for the happiness we have now."

No marriage will survive without some opposition.

A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with, the wind. Lewis Mumford.

Have you experienced opposition in your life? Are you stronger for it?

1.                  Struggle against opposition brings strength.

2.                  Opposition helps us rise above the crowd.

3.                  Joy of success is all the greater if we've fought to achieve something.

4.                  Dark days make us grateful for the light.

Look for the gifts in your trials. 

Light is always stronger than dark.