It is April 1999.  I have been married for 18 years and today my husband has offered to buy me a wedding and engagement ring.  Words cannot describe the pride I know I will feel when I wear them on my left hand - proud to be truly married to my husband at last!

Geoff says that we only ever had one argument during our marriage, but it lasted 17 years.  While we were busy hating each other we managed to produce three absolutely gorgeous, obedient, wise, Christ-loving children - Brett 16 years, Brooke 14 years and Bree 5 years. To have these children emotionally survive the horrific arguments in our household is proof alone that our mighty God cares, heals and restores.

Geoff and I didn't have a good start.  He was an ex-crim on parole when I met him in a brothel! It wasn't a good place to meet a guy but we were
married within six months. He was a big happy man, lots of fun, with plenty of money. I was young, pretty and very naïve. I was eager to put our pasts behind us, start a family, and be the perfect wife.

I am sure Geoff wanted the same, but his old associates were still around and when I asked him questions he would never give me straight answers. Lies started and mistrust set in!  Geoff drank heavily.

When Brett was two years and Brooke was a newborn, I was sure her birth would change our lives - but Geoff was involved in a shocking brawl and was badly injured which left me grieving so badly my milk dried up. I don't know why but I started praying to God. I had the children christened and as I sat in church I knew I needed the peace of our Lord - I just didn't know how to get it.

Our lives of turmoil continued. I became aggressive and angry, even with the children, and Geoff became the worst man on earth to me - everyone else loved him.

Finally in June 1989 I found Jesus. The children and I walked into church again and I wept the whole time. I found Jesus!  Geoff was happy too.  Our
marriage began to improve and two years later Geoff gave his heart to the Lord.  We were in love again and decided to have another child. 

Geoff started to get ill and he couldn't work. I fell pregnant, miscarried then fell pregnant again. Geoff's health deteriorated. I gave birth to a
beautiful baby girl, Bree. Geoff had a nervous breakdown; he became violent and aggressive abusing the children and myself.  I kept Bree in my bed
giving me an excuse not to ever share my bed with my husband. I couldn't love him any more.  He became more repulsive to me by the day.

I was scared of Geoff and therefore kept Bree with me at all times, nursing her until she was three years. I needed to get away from him but didn't know to whom to turn. I would call out to Jesus in desperation, read my Bible and then pray Scripture to the Lord.

By this time revival meetings had hit the Gold Coast and Praise God, Geoff started going to them every night.  The Lord had begun to work a miracle in
our lives.  Geoff would at times be better, then at other times, ten times worse.

Eventually, one horrible morning he was abusing me when our son, Brett, now 13 years said, "Don't treat my mum like this."  Geoff turned on him. I rang the police. They took him away and issued a restraining order against him. Finally there was peace in the house. Geoff stayed with friends who counseled him and God worked in his heart.

After a few weeks I knew the Lord wanted Geoff to come back home. He did, but my respect was gone and I had no love for him. I prayed to the Lord to restore my marriage and to give me new love for him. I was dry.

New Years Eve came and as everyone prayed the New Year in, I sat outside praying to the Lord.  "Please not another year with Geoff".  My days were full of tears.

One day I lay in bed crying - all day! I didn't cook or clean. I just cried.  Another day I lay in my husband's arms and cried for
hours. I knew the Lord was chipping away at my heart. Geoff's outbursts were getting further and further apart. We were still not sharing the same bed, but we were now in the same room. A start! A miracle!

Then one day at a church meeting I repeated a prayer strategy to rid myself of the alcoholic demon that can effect families through the generations.
Both my parents had been alcoholics and also Geoff's father, and when Geoff abused me it was like being abused by my alcoholic parents.

I asked him to also pray the prayer for deliverance from the alcohol demon. We prayed and prayed and prayed the alcoholic deliverance prayer with Geoff. It was midnight when we finished and I knew by Geoff's eyes that the Lord had done His work.

I told Brett to go to bed. I said goodnight to Geoff and made to walk away. He stopped me and said he had something to tell me.  We talked for hours.
He told me the truth concerning all his lies.  He told me the truth about his life. The tears flowed. I went to bed alone but I knew our marriage had been restored. 

A month later he came back into my bed. I know we will never be apart again. I was sick around Christmas and Geoff picked me flowers.  I hurt my knee a few weeks back, he bought me chocolates.

It's been over a year and we've never had another argument. Already people envy our marriage. WOW! I have the best husband and the most wonderful children in the world.  Thank you, my most precious Lord Jesus!

JOANNE DE ROME

Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia