00:00:21 How did 15 years go by so fast?
00:00:27 We were so young when we got married
00:00:31 —maybe too young.
00:00:34 We had so little in common.
00:00:50 When I started studying the Bible,
00:00:53 I thought Thomas would be as excited as I was to learn the truth.
00:01:10 But every conversation we had on the subject
00:01:13 seemed to turn into an argument.
00:01:22 Looking back, I really wish I’d handled it better.
00:01:29 As the years went by,
00:01:31 he did become more open to discussion.
00:01:51 But it’s been hard worshipping God alone.
00:01:54 Others in the congregation are able to serve Jehovah together
00:01:58 and even reach out for theocratic goals
00:02:01 like the School for Kingdom Evangelizers,
00:02:04 something I would love to do.
00:02:06 Why can’t I have a husband who loves Jehovah like I do?
00:02:11 Abigail probably felt the same way
00:02:14 but with more reason.
00:02:21 Her husband was a bully and a drunkard
00:02:24 and was despised by his entire household.
00:02:47 At that time, many marriages were arranged,
00:02:50 so Abigail had very little control over her circumstances.
00:02:56 But her words and actions
00:02:58 showed that she was a spiritual woman
00:03:00 who didn’t focus on what she could not control
00:03:02 but on what she could.
00:03:05 I determined to do the same.
00:03:08 I meditated on Jesus’ words at Matthew 19:6:
00:03:12 “What God has yoked together, let no man put apart.”
00:03:18 To Jehovah, marriage is permanent
00:03:22 —even my marriage to an unbeliever.
00:03:24 So instead of dwelling on changing my husband or my marriage,
00:03:28 I focused on changing myself.
00:03:31 Thomas does not love Jehovah,
00:03:33 but he’s not a “Nabal” either.
00:03:36 He is loyal, and he loves me.
00:03:39 He is entitled to the respect that the Bible commands wives to show to their husbands.
00:03:43 So I’m making an effort to be more respectful and loving to him.
00:03:47 Thomas hasn’t developed an interest in the truth or started studying.
00:03:52 But I have the satisfaction of knowing my God is pleased with me,
00:03:57 and I have the same view of marriage that he does.
