Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

"I don't see how," said Rachel.

"She will be a tremendous hindrance if you give way to your present feelings about her. You must forgive me, my dear child, but I am perfectly certain from all you have told me that you are suffering from a terrible enemy. Let me call him by his right name: his name is jealousy."

"Oh no," said Rachel shrinking. "I despise jealous people, I don't think it is that."

"In the depths of your heart you are afraid lest your influence over your husband should be undermined by his mother; lest he should grow more dependent on her than on you. You do not like him to spend time with her which you think ought to be given to you. In fact you generally suspect him of being with her when he is late home, and all this makes it impossible for you to like her. Is it not so?"

Rachel was silent. She knew he was telling her the truth.

"But you must remember that his love for his mother is the most natural thing in the world. You would not really have it otherwise. If he did not remain faithful to her now he has married you, you would have cause to doubt if he would always remain faithful to you. You should encourage this filial love in him."

"But you don't know her," said Rachel.

"Yes, I have met her; and though I can understand that she may not have much tact, and may be lacking in sensitiveness, in fact is rather a rough jewel, nevertheless she is a jewel, and I think you should be grateful rather than otherwise to her for the beautiful influence she has had over her son, which provides you with such a husband. And do not you think that possibly she has more cause for jealousy than you? Remember, she has had to turn out of her home, to give up her son, to see him wrapped up in his love for you. I own I feel a little for Mrs. Greville."

Rachel looked up at him with her eyes still full of tears. "I know you are right," she said, "and I think I have been horrid. Somehow I have selfishly been thinking of my own trials and have forgotten hers. But I don't know how I can be different."

"Unless you get the victory over this sin, it will get the victory over you and embitter your life. Jealousy becomes a kind of obsession, if given way to. It has wrecked many a life."