My wife Lynn and I posted many, many notes here about a year ago, after I discovered her adultery. It was very difficult for me to find a path toward forgiveness and renewed love. It almost killed me. I did my best to be heroic and Christian about reconciling, but much of the past year was miserable. We finally got annulments of previous marriages (one for me, two for her). We finally got remarried in a Catholic Church (August 12, the day before the anniversary of the discovery of the adultery). <P>This weekend we went to Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic-sponsored (but not limited to Catholics) program started in the 1960s in Spain by a priest trying to help troubled children. I was cynical. I got physically sick from anxiety. I was an unbeliever. <P>A miracle happened. The anger was lifted from my soul. I found real forgiveness. I found the sweetest, dearest love I have ever experienced.<P>Words fail. We both were in awe tonight, exhausted from the grueling program of the encounter weekend, in which couples are marched through intense communication drills, while supported with an incredible splendor of original ideas about how to support married couples. <P>I had doubted she "really loved me" and this had eaten us both up. No matter how hard she tried, and she tried very hard in gestures and written words and spoken words, I could not believe it in my soul.<P>I went to the weekend with cyncicism and no expectations.<P>I found myself IN LOVE with my wife, and with a sense that at last I finally do really see and accept forgiveness from God's perspective.<P>And everything feels different. We made the tenderest love tonight of my whole life, and it was as if our skin was more tender than it had ever been. As if we were 18 years old again. In love again.<P>I've been ducking this board for many months now, feeling like a loser and a failure. <P>But I know that what I have found this weekend is real, praise God. Who can lift you up, and fill you with light, and gently take away the great wall of armor you have made of your voice and your mind and your body.<P>Whew!

Amazing what Faith can do... I am happy for you and your wife. H and I are 4 1/2 months into recovery from an emotional affair that was, what we feel, was a wake up call from Him. I wish He had chosen a different way to get our attention, but in retrospect I see I would not have "listened". H and I have found what we lost and are better, stronger and deeply committed to each other and this marriage.<P>So glad you posted because success stories are so important here.<P>------------------<BR>Joan<p>[This message has been edited by joanie (edited September 27, 1999).]

bruce,<P>I'm really happy for you and Lynn: the path for forgiveness can be rough, but it's absolutely essential if you're going to make it through this process with a renewed marriage.<P>You've never been a failure or a loser---these things just take time. Congratulations!!!

bruce:<P>It's so wonderful to hear your good news! I have often thought of you and Lynn and wondered how you have been doing. Thanks for giving the update. God is so good! Praise Him for the healing work in your marriage.<P>God bless you and Lynn,<BR>Shannon

Bruce,<BR>Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and Lynn. Like other "old-timers" I think of you both and have hoped that you are doing well. I'm sorry for your tough times, but I'm so pleased that you both stayed with it and have found this peace and happiness.<P>------------------<BR>"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31<P><BR>

Bruce - you made me cry. I am so happy for you and your wife. I dream of feeling as you do - I guess it will just take a bit longer as its only been seven months since dislosure. You are an inspiration!

OOOOOOHHHHHHH.... <sigh>... now THAT was beautiful...<P>I can hardly wait to find that place with my H <P>------------------<BR>~Sheryl<P>Marriage: the most important contract you'll ever enter into, and the most sacred.<P><BR>

Thanks for sharing your story, Bruce!

Congratulations...<P>My wife and I (early on in our marraige went to a MEW)...<P>Unfortunately dialoguing stopped (she stopped) after ~3 months...<P>Please... keep your dialogs fresh...<BR>The MEW web sites have good dialoguing questions now! (they didn't have such a site 4-5 years ago!)<P>I'm happy for you...<P>I hope someday to have ago with Retrouvaille and then ME again... to keep it going!<P>Bless you for the good news!<P>Jim

Yes, thanks for sharing!!!<P>It's such an inspiration to know that with time and endurance the impossible can become possible.....through whatever means that is accomplished!!!<P>And through the means of God....well,can't get any better than that!!!<P>Hugs,<P>Sheba

nsr,<P>do you know the address of any of those ME sites that have the dialogue questions? <P>tamis

you give me hope. My husband not a christian but I hope he will be and will find forgiveness in his heart and soul. What a bitter sweet <BR>hope=having optimistic peace eternally.