Friday, October 26, 2012

Family Matters


Last weekend, my husband took a trip back to his mother's house — alone. A few weeks prior, she'd called telling him there were some pressing family matters she wanted to discuss with him. She gave him an idea as to what it was all about. After he got off the phone with her, he sat me down and told me her breaking news. I've decided not to reveal that news at the moment, but let's just say I wasn't overly shocked, neither was he, but we were both saddened.

So, his mother bought him a plane ticket home and he spent three days with his family. Three shocking and unbelievable days.

His mother had only touched the tip of the iceberg with her news on the phone. There was so much more to the story, so much more to the family member involved, that when I heard my husband proclaim the news over the phone, I was literally at a loss for words.

Our first step was to immediately take the situation to the Lord. Next, he made sure to call his SA sponsor and talk things through with him and how my husband should handle the situation for the time being. Let's just say, when the family member heard my husband's feelings on the matter, even though he was very loving and stated he needed time to think things through, that family member blew up in his face, cursing with every other word being the f-bomb.

As a couple, we don't agree with the path this family member has chosen to take, but at the same time we haven't stopped loving this person. This individual has made a choice, one that will affect their life for years to come. Right away, my husband was seen as ignorant and unfeeling because he simply didn't agree with this person's life choices. This makes me both sad and angry.

We are not ignorant to the ways of the world. We just choose, unlike many out there who feel they have to go with everything that comes down the pike. But each of us has choices, whether another disagrees or not. It's just that we have to learn how to show grace to those who need it the most.

As a family, we are still in shock and utter disbelief, most importantly my husband. He woke up the day following his return home and when I asked him how he was feeling, he simply said he was sad. And that in turn makes me sad. We don't like to see those most important to us hurt over someone else's decisions.

My husband's plan is simple: Work the steps and keep in touch with his sponsor. Prayer is the number one thing for our family right now, and really, that's all we can do for this individual. We love this person and we will continue to battle the enemy on their behalf.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Rejection

Such and ugly word, when you think about it. I've waded through my fair share of rejection over the past couple of months, but I chose the writing profession and it's just something that comes with the territory.

But rejection comes in so many different forms.

When dealing with an unfaithful spouse, whether it's a physical, emotional, or visual betrayal, a woman always feels rejection. When she finds out what's going on, the questions begin. "Am I not pretty enough?" "Do I need to lose a few extra pounds?" "Why does he never pay attention to just me?" This is when betrayal and rejection cut the deepest.

As women, we don't want to feel like we're secondary to the magazines he flips through, to the woman he secretly has on the side, to that woman at work who seems to capture his attention in ways we cannot. And it hurts when we know that we don't take priority in his mind, that his thoughts are elsewhere when we try to have a conversation with our husbands.

It's been a while since I've experienced my husband's rejection, but every now and again, when I start to let the thoughts of this world creep into my mind, it rears its ugly head. October 31 will be my husband's one year sobriety date for his lust/porn addiction. After this depressing past year, this upcoming milestone brings tears to my eyes.

I can't believe he's made it a whole year, but with the changes in our lives, I know this sobriety date will be well-deserved for him.

Has your spouse experienced a sobriety milestone lately? How does that make you feel?