I watched my husband of five years from across the lunchroom table. He couldn’t look me in the eyes and I knew even before he spoke, my dreams were about to be shattered. The waiting was like watching a movie in slow motion. Trepidation set in.
Finally, he spoke. “I’m not happy anymore. You’re not the woman I married, and I’m moving to Toronto to think things through.”
My jaw dropped. Dumbfounded, I struggled for words. It seemed like an eternity before I found my voice. I asked what he meant when he said I had changed. He couldn’t answer me. I asked if there was another woman. He said no, and left. Bewildered, I sat in utter confusion and devastation, still not believing he gave me this shocking news at the end of my work day.
I’m not exactly sure how I made it home that dreadful day, but I do remember sitting on my couch staring into space. My thoughts tangled together like the threads beneath a needlepoint as I tried to make sense of the sudden mess my world was in. I couldn’t think of what to do next. I went through many emotions and asked the typical questions. Why did this happen? What did I do wrong? Where was God? I shook my fist and yelled.
My husband returned a few days later to gather his belongings, and I confronted him. I was angry and needed answers. I asked if we could go for counseling, but he said it was too late, and that he didn’t love me as a wife anymore. I felt defeated and once again, he left.
Days turned into weeks, and I began to deal with the pain of losing my husband. I turned to my family, friends, and church for help. Slowly, God became more real to me than I thought possible (I will share more about this in the blogs ahead).
Even though the healing process began, something kept nagging at me. I knew my husband was keeping a secret. One he wouldn’t admit.
Months later, he confirmed my suspicions. He didn’t leave me because of another woman. He left because I WAS a woman. He wanted to live a different lifestyle, and I didn’t fit in anymore.
How did I deal with something like that? It wasn’t easy, but I did the only thing I could think of.
If your heart is crushed and your dreams shattered, don’t give up. Please come back and visit my blog each week. I pray you will find it helpful as I piece together how God took me from brokenness to restoration, and set me free to soar again.
Until then,
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4 (NIV)
So glad you had God and family and church to turn to. In times we hurt is when God reaches out to us and holds us tight. Thank you for sharing your story. My daughter’s husband after being together as a couple for 10 years then married 3 told her he would sit in his car and hated going in to look at her. She never got a answer what happen but then another women was in the pic.
Hi Roberta. So sorry your daughter went through that. It’s so tough. Yes, I’m so thankful God provided the right people at the right time to help me through this tough time. Thanks for stopping by. xo
Darlene — I am so drawn to you story. Even though I’m 68yo, I am amazed at how “uneducated, blind, sheltered, and naive” I was growing up. Though I asked Jesus into my life I didn’t realize one needed to be nurtured and fed daily to become strong in one’s faith. Though I physically had family and friends, emotionally there was no connection. When I read your post, I believe it was Mysterious Ways and heard the song “As Long as it Takes,” I knew and was hoping for more. Apparently God knew I needed to see more and led me back to your new website to show me what I had missed and needed to see. Thank you for your vulnerability and willingness to share. 🙏