PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL By: Frances McCrory-Meservy Nov 1962-Oct 1963
I became proud that I was a Christian and began thinking (not saying) that I was glad I was not like the people who were not saved. This is a judgmental attitude. I forgot that I was only better because of Jesus in me. The results were as if God said, "Oh yeah, watch what happens when I don’t help you be a good Christian."
After I broke up with Ronnie, I started dating Alberto. We, with other students, went to the movies, the beach and to the docks to tour foreign ships. We met people from all over the world.
We hung out with so many Spanish-speaking people that I began understanding Spanish. I never did learn to speak the language. Oh, I knew a few words but that’s all.
In November 1962, I thought I was in love with Alberto. I had bought into the lie that if you planned to marry; God considered the two of you as married even though you don’t have the marriage certificate.
The affair lasted less than a year because I found out he was having an affair with another girl. He informed me that, "Where I come from, you are not a man unless you have a wife and a mistress." I told him I could not live with that and broke the engagement.
Thank God Jesus is merciful and forgives those who repent and ask for forgiveness. During that time, I was a nervous wreck (no peace) because I was out of God’s will; but He never stopped loving me and never left me. After I broke off the affair, peace returned to my life and I no longer had a problem with nerves.
I still dated Alberto; but there was no more promiscuousness. It is hard to give up someone you love.
After the newspaper came out in June 1965 announcing Al & my wedding, Alberto came over and tried to talk me into marring him instead. I was in love with Al who had very high moral standards (even though he was not a Christian) and he felt it was wrong to have relations outside of marriage. My answer was, as they say, a no brainer. "No."
Prov 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
Prov 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Luke 18:11-14
"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner! "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."John 4:15-18 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." Jesus said to her,
"Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."Mat 18:12-14
"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.Luke 6:37
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.portrait Alberto & Fran 1963 by Roberts studios in Beaumont TX