Sobriety Birthday

I just wanted to share a quick post about a crucial milestone in my husband's recovery. As of Oct. 31, he is now one year free from his porn addiction. Sure, it's been an incredibly rocky year, but this is a much anticipated birthday for him. To celebrate the occasion, I made him a cake that simply said "1 Year" on it, and he took it and shared it with his recovery group.

I know there are many of you out there struggling through a spouse's addiction, trying to make sense of it all. It's a tough road, and many times you're thrown a curve ball or two. I just want to encourage you in making sure to look after yourself, seek an accountability partner, and make sure you're on track to being healed.

I still face each day with trepidation in my heart, but little by little it is diminishing. I continue to pray each day for my husband's continued recovery and for our family as well. With God's guidance and loving hand, I know I can weather this storm.

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?