I'm not an OW. Once upon a time, during a dark, ugly period of my life that I can barely understand myself, I was ever so briefly someone's OW. Yes, I played that role for 7 months out of my life and did many things during that time that I am ashamed of. If I could take it all back and make it so it never happened, I would in a heartbeat. But, that being impossible, what I've chosen to do instead is seek forgiveness, and use the valuable, life-altering lessons I've learned as a result to become a better person and a better spouse.<P>But, despite this even though I've made some terrible mistakes and bad choices, I have always been A WIFE. For almost half my life, that is who I've been and that is who I am. Obvously, I didn't perform this role perfectly each and every day of these 18 years, but I don't intend to allow the mistakes on my bad days to nullify the many good and beautiful days. <P>And so, I remain, as always, a wife. I couldn't be more proud of that.<P>------------------<BR>Love is meant to heal. Love is meant to renew. Love is meant to oust all fear. Love is meant to harmonize differences. Love is meant to bring us closer to God.

New woman, so glad you wrote that. We all make mistakes, don't we all wish we didn't? Thanks for your post.