Download - The Perfect Wisdom Web

Be Not Afraid DespairMarried life began happily for them, and within ayear their first son arrived in perfect health. Then onemorning a few months after the baby’s birth, Jim wasat work when he began to feel uneasy. It was uncanny,he would explain later, but somehow a voice inside himseemed to be saying, “Sheila is in trouble!” He calledher workplace. She wasn’t there. Then he called theirhome. No one answered, so, panicking, he left workand ran the quarter mile to their apartment. Findinga letter on the bed, he ripped it open. Then he lookedin the bathroom. There she was, out cold on the floor,a kitchen knife and an empty bottle of extra-strengthMotrin beside her…Later, Jim would look back and recognize thewarning signs that had been there all along – signs hehad missed, or chosen to ignore. He would remembertimes Sheila tried to tell him about the dark thoughtsthat often harried her, and how he’d tried to bring heraround by changing the subject. He would come tounderstand the desperation that had driven Sheila toact. But that morning, as he dropped to the bathroomfloor and shook his wife’s shoulders, screaming hername into her ear, all he could think was, Why?The demon of despair lurks at the edge of everyhuman heart, and if we are honest we must admit thateach of us has at one time or another felt its chillingtouch. Despair is one of our greatest enemies. It means6