Normally, I don't come on the website on the weekends, but I was up a little early this morning - reading before I went to church with my H (he's still sleeping).<P>Anyway, I read your post to Summertime, and I don't know. I just kind of cried - because of everything you said. My H never really talked much about the A and how it affected him, he never asked me a million questions - in some ways I am very grateful for that. But, when I read your message, I don't know, it made me think, but it also made me feel good in an odd way - that maybe my H went through the same things as you did (in fact I'm sure of that) - but yet he loved me enough to give me a second chance.<P>God is the only one who has an endless supply of second chances. To have my H in my life, to have been given not a second, but a third chance, well, I just feel blessed. And, I guess I just wanted to say how blessed your H is to have you in his life. You truly are a gift from God and should be cherished - and you will be. I, too, believe that anything is possible through God. If He can save someone like me, turn me around and make me a better person, anything is possible. If He can make good come out of bad, then His purpose and His will has been served, and I'm glad that I finally see God holding me in the palm of His hands. I believe in miracles, and I really believe that's what took place in my life. <P>Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to write that post, and the hundreds of others you write. Your words may not have hit its mark, but you hit me in the process, and I appreciate it. Before, I had religion, now I have a relationship - and now, I know the difference.

Thank you so much....I guess I needed to hear that from you today as well. Looking back, I know I really pushed my husband to his limits many times and I see how blessed I am to have him. Another man might have thrown up his hands and walked away, but he took it all and never flinched. I agree with you....we have been given a miracle and we are blessed. <P>I had the head knowledge about my relationship with Christ for a long time...I was saved as a little girl...but the heart knowledge has come in the last few years. God really began working in my life about 3-4 years prior to the affair and He stepped it up in the months that it was going on. If we could sit down one day and talk, I could show you a clear timeline of what He did to prepare me to find out about the affair.....that amazes me even today, 3 years later. <P>There was a devotion that I read about 2 weeks prior to finding out about the affair...it was in Experiencing God Day by Day. The line that stood out to me was "It is possible to spend your entire life knowing <I>about</I> the truths of God without ever <I>experiencing</I> them." That really struck me then, but now...having lived out the truths of God, it blows me away. What a privilege to know Him in such an intimate and special way. And you know what...I don't care that it was a crisis that brought me to Him...I'm just glad that I got the chance to know Him and continue to know Him so personally.<P>Take care.....your husband is a very blessed man. You do a lot of good here in sharing what went wrong in your life and how you have been restored as an indivdual and in your marriage. I'm glad to get to "work" alongside of you and so many other caring people. <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

HGBrawner -<P>You said: "It is possible to spend your entire life knowing about the truths of God without ever experiencing them." That really struck me then, but now...having lived out the truths of God, it blows me away. What a privilege to know Him in such an intimate and special way. And you know what...I don't care that it was a crisis that brought me to Him...I'm just glad that I got the chance to know Him and continue to know Him so personally.<P>For my whole life, I knew the truths, but I ignored them - not intentionally at first, but things have a way of catching up with you. The biggest crisis I ever had was doubting God's love for me, that no matter how long I lived, I could never "make it up" to Him. To know right from wrong, to know the truth and to continue to sin - well, I was a mess. But, at the darkest time in my life, there was still something within me that reached out to Him. When I was weakest, I relied not on my own strength, but His. <P>Even though we are on opposite sides of this experience - I think we probably shared similar anguish. He heard both of our cries. We may need different things in our lives, but there is one thing we share in common - we're both very grateful for our faith in God. Everytime I go to church now, I cry - not tears of pain or hurt - but tears of shear joy. I truly appreciate everything that God has given to me, and that includes a very loving and faithful H. <P>If you've ever traveled, been away from home, been weary, and then step in your own house, sleep in your own bed - you experience a kind of relief and joy just by being home, and that's how I feel. I'm glad that there are people like you, here, ready to help those of us who are trying to find our way home. It's very, very comforting.<P>And, I wouldn't mind sitting down with you - anytime - to talk. In fact, someday, I hope we will meet.

Well, we both know that we are assured of meeting in Heaven one day...and I really believe God will allow us to have that chance. But I sure would be grateful if He gave us that chance here on earth too. In the meantime, we just keep on keeping on, reaching out and trying to make a difference.<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