People: Marianne and Elinor
Text: Contrary to what the Dashwood sisters thought she would say, their mother advised them to not cut short their visit in London because of Willoughby. She thought that Marianne would heal more quickly in a place that had less memories of the man.
This gave Elinor time to share with her sister all that Colonel Brandon had revealed about Willoughby’s character and reputation. Marianne received it but did not react as her sister had expected.
When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss Dashwood to her sister, their effect on her was not entirely such as the former had hoped to see. Marianne did not appear to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to all with the most steady and submissive attention. She made neither objection nor remark. She attempted no vindication of Willoughby. But though this behavior assured Elinor that the conviction of his guilt was carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called, in her speaking to him even voluntarily, with a kind of compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less violently irritated, she did not see her less wretched. Her mind did become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection. She could not bring herself to speak of what she felt even to Elinor. Brooding over her sorrows in silence gave more pain to her sister than could have been communicated by the most open and the most frequent confession of them.
Emotion: resignation
Insight: John 8:32 offers hope of freedom and healing, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Marianne knew the truth. She was made aware of the true nature of Willoughby’s character. But this truth did not have the desired effect that Elinor was wishing. Elinor hoped that knowing the real reputation of John Willoughby would free Marianne to begin the process of healing from the wounds that she received as a result of his rejection. But it did not.
Let’s choose to be active participants in our own healing and always come to Jesus knowing that His truth is liberating. Unlike Marianne, may we allow the truth to set us free from the misery of lies that we had been believing. Truth is powerful. It is healing. It is freeing. Let us always embrace truth and permit it to do its miraculous work in our lives.
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