Short Story: For Better or For Worse

Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. The approximate bulletin count is 9,500 every weekend.

For Better or For Worse

CCV Members Tom and Gayle Beckley were married on April 22, 1972. Since their wedding day, their relationship has experienced several drastic dips and turns. Their marriage story shows how two people can be healed if they just let go and let God lead.

Shortly after their wedding day, Gayle began to notice Tom’s growing addiction to alcohol. It was this very addiction that broke up the family and revealed layers and layers of hurt for both Tom and Gayle.

“I began to pray for God to change Tom so that he would be a good husband. That prayer didn’t work! My prayer changed to asking God to help Tom stop drinking so he could be a good father. That prayer didn’t work either,” explains Gayle. It was at this time while praying for God to heal both Tom and herself that Gayle opted for divorce, something she never wanted and thought she would never consider.

When Gayle asked for the divorce, she caught Tom off guard, and the binge drinking escalated even more. It took intervention from a caring friend to lead Tom to a rehabilitation program where he renewed his relationship with Christ. “I finally got on my hands and knees asking God to take away my burdens. That same day, my desire to drink left completely and has never returned,” Tom shares.

Upon successful completion of the program, Tom recognized his responsibility to his family. Ready to start a new life, Tom asked Gayle to discuss his changed life and, possibly, a reconciliation. She said “no” to remarriage, but allowed him time with the kids. Tom learned that he need not to worry about things he couldn’t control, so he left it in God’s hands and went on with his new life. As Tom visited with the kids, Gayle noticed his sincere change of hearts and habits, as well as her own.

God had performed a miraculous healing in both Tom and Gayle’s heart. On April 22, 1983, they were remarried with their children in attendance. The Beckleys believe that any marriage can be healed if the two parties involved want it. We have to be willing to work on ourselves and just leave the other person to God.