Page 102 - REACHING ALWAYS FOR MY SECOND ELEMENT

There was never any drug or alcohol use, never any physical abuse. Never any name-calling that didn’t put on a smile
and give warmth to the heart. Never a temptation or concern with a cheating heart. Friends? We had a few, but we

should say more about acquaintances. It was hard to keep those protentional friends with our lifestyle. Always on the

move, and not many really could understand Joyselyn and me very well. It seemed like we lived in different worlds
apart most all the time. I could tell that they wanted something that Joyselyn and I shared. It was interesting how many

of those people would attack our marriage. Take Joyselyn aside and tell her she could do so much better; when I would
ask Joyselyn why I had not seen or heard from or about that person for some time, she would tell me she had to dump

them—telling me that what God had joined together let no person separate. All the answers I needed. A strong
woman, my Joyselyn, could always stand her ground. And stand my ground as well.

On a few occasions, I have had women ask me why I would refer to Joyselyn as My Joyselyn, informing me how

demeaning it sounded. Saying she was her own person and not an object that I owned. I asked if I should say
something like my wife instead. To my amazement, they agreed that that would be more appropriate. When I

explained that using her name was my way of honoring Joyselyn and not putting her in a box with the rest of the
nameless wives, they just looked at me like I was crazy. I told them how much I loved her and wanted everyone to put a

name to that lovely lady’s face. And yes, she was a gift from God, who made her mine. A bad habit, I know, but one I am
sure never to give up. I then thanked them for their concerns and moved on.

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