“I can’t find it,” I said. I held my breath as I searched every compartment of my purse. Frustrated, I threw it across the room and started to cry.
Have you ever lost something valuable? Something you couldn’t live without?
I have, but it’s not what you think.
I lost myself.
During my five and a half years of marriage to my first husband, my personality disappeared like air releasing from a slow leak of a damaged tire. His strong character took over mine, and I began to suppress the real Darlene without even realizing it.
When my husband said to me that I wasn’t the woman he married, in a way he was right. I wasn’t. I lost my true identity in the shadows of his. He wanted the limelight, and I let him have it.
Do I blame him? Not entirely. I allowed it to happen. I didn’t stick up for myself when I should have. There were times I felt like I couldn’t do anything right, so I let him take over almost every aspect of our lives. My self-esteem plummeted like a downhill skier over a fresh snow-packed mountain. Eventually, I took on a new persona. One that wasn’t mine.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t until after my husband left that I discovered my mistake of suppressing the real me. Through counseling and prayer, I started to work through the pain of my divorce. Slowly, when joy began to peek through the clouds in my life, my real personality re-emerged. Stronger.
Finally, the “real Darlene stood up” and people began to notice. They said to me, “You’re different.” But it was meant in a good way. One even said, “Darlene is back.”
I was happy again and my self-esteem began to climb back up that mountain. God showed me that I needed to love myself because He loved me…just the way I am.
I was lost, but now I’m found.
We must be careful in any type of relationship to be true to ourselves and not lose our personality. Take a stand. Be ourselves. We are special the way we are.
Remember, God doesn’t make junk. (Click to tweet)
Psalm 139:13-15 (Contemporary English Version)
You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below.
Well said Darlene
Thanks Kim!! xo
Oh how I so get this. I lived it like that for 23 years in my first marriage. It does take prayer work and therapy for the real to. Come back BUT GOD
God is good! All the time!
I wasn’t married to him but we dated for 7 years, and I found that I also was lost in his world. I wised up and told him good bye in 2016! My life is so much better now!
So sorry you had to go through that. Glad to hear you’re doing well. God bless!