Beautiful You

Dawn Hull is a Professional Skin Care Consultant.

My wife's infidelity brought me to a turning point in our already dysfunctional marriage. 3 weeks ago, purely by accident, I caught my wife cheating. We have been married for 15 years, have 2 boys aged 10 & 14, and I am a recovered alcoholic/addict. I lost my job 15 months ago due to my addiction, forcing my wife to go back to work. We have been drifting further and further apart for several years. When I discovered my wife with another man, the boys and I had come back to house to retrieve a forgotten wallet. While the boys waited in the car I went inside to discover the most painful situation I have ever faced in my life! Thank God I could not respond for I quickly felt the boys did not deserve to drag into our problems. So I left more hurt than angry at the moment. I later phoned my wife to say we needed to have dinner and talk. Something we never do. She asked if I wanted to divorce her and I answered: "I don't know, is that what you want to do? She replied: "No I can't raise the kids alone or worse face the possibility they would want to live with you". I decided for the moment I would not get divorced today, but could how I might feel tomorrow. Since that moment 3 weeks ago we have talked more than in the past 15 years. She to continue talking to this person on the phone, but I insisted all communications be cut off. That was the only way I could deal with it emotionally. I also suggested she attend Al-Anon meetings regularly was probably the only way this marriage was going to survive. We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but I believe we are on the right path. I keep asking myself why I reacted in a positive manner, (totally out of character for me). I believe the hand of God stepped in to guide me. You see my wife has been extremely angry with me for actions as and alcoholic/addict. I have been in recovery for over a year and working hard to repair the damage my behavior has caused. This tragic infidelity has turned into a blessing in disguise. Now we are both developing a spiritual life together and are acting like team when it comes to parenting. I still feel hurt and betrayed, I ask God to help me forgive her every morning, and it is working. Suddenly I am finding my wife more beautiful today than at anytime in the past. I believe I am truly falling in love with her all over again. So for know I am enjoying the ride and I am starting to really live life to its fullest the way God had intended. I hope this will give some readers hope.

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