As an only child, Mary grows up with a negative, protective mother, who sends her to church alone. Mary longs for acceptance. She marries Jim, joins his church and they go to Spain for two years, where Mary has a miscarriage and the marriage deteriorates as he spends time at bars. Back home, they got college degrees and have three sons. Mary suffers from chronic colitis and nearly dies in childbirth. She is hospitalized in a psychiatric ward where a friend visits and invites her to Bible study. After two years she prays to receive Christ. The first part ends as she tell her husband she is leaving his church.