Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate

When you first met him, what was it like?  You listened to what he said.  You took his words as truth.  You reasoned away doubt.  You believed his lies.  Now look at you.  Controlled, manipulated, and emotionally abused by words said as recent as yesterday.  When people tell you that your partner doesn't deserve you, he is no good, or other choice words, you agree with them, yet you stay. Staying with someone who is emotionally or physically abusive is more challenging than leaving.  Once you are packed up and out the door, your life awaits you.  However, when you stay, you don't see anything but what he wants, where he wants to go, how he feels, and so on; therefore, your life is put on hold.  You find yourself working each day to maintain a relationship with someone who doesn't love or respect you nearly as much as you love him.  How much more do you have to take before you tell yourself, "I will not work to keep my love alive for him."  When do you walk away

God permits all sorts of things to happen to us human beings as we age.  Some things we have pills and potions for while others not so much.  There are no cures for many diseases and conditions and yet the human spirit manages to keep on living anyway.  Yet, there are those individuals we don't know aren't so positive about those illnesses we simply can't manage and God has no plans on curing us from.  We are like the Apostle Paul with a thorn in our flesh that keeps us humble.  People who are controlling, dysfunctional, ignorant, or mean-spirited will have a problem with us no matter what we say or do to try to get them to be more understanding. Abusive people don't respond well to any issue that does the following: inconveniences them, makes them feel uncomfortable, cost money, shames them, or causes them to feel like they are out of control.  They become increasingly angry, impatient, and rude the more the private matter comes up.  As if the burden isn't heavy