Nobody would blame you would they? Nobody would sit there and condemn you for leaving. There isn't a very loud "Poor Josh" crowd- are there any? Nobody would blame you would they?
The eyes of the world are on you in the most painful and raw moment of your life. No matter what you do, compassion seems to have run dry. I don't know what you're going through though I imagine it's a vicious pain. Nobody would blame you.
Instead, there you stand. Likely feeling very much alone, holding onto the scraps of your marriage with tight fists and weeping eyes. Not only dealing with the judgment of the world upon your husband but the judgment of every move you make. That takes strength.
Guess what- no one gets to judge the power of Forgiveness. Guess what- no one has to live in your marriage but you. Guess what- no matter how much your husband screws up, Christ's power to forgive isn't limited by his ability to sin.
Nobody would blame you. I stand among those. I don't want to see women yoking themselves to men who don't honor them, who lie to them, who break the precious covenant of marriage. It's not my marriage to live in. It's not my heart on the line to find the capacity to love a man so broken.
Everyone agrees what Josh did was beyond despicable. He shouldn't get a free pass. However, nothing in this world is as black and white as we want it. You made children with this man. You invested all of yourself here. It's your choice to decide to dig in when it gets ugly and fight. What a powerful story of redemption to make it through this time of burning? I've seen people change when they hit rock bottom. What a testament to your faith.
See, we're supposed to forgive. We're supposed to be the group that accepts the screw ups. We're not supposed to be the perfect pristine people who don't do ugly things. No, we're supposed to be exactly those people. We've let the imagine of the perfect Jesus confuse us to thinking we're the perfect people. We've used this as fuel to condemn others when we needed to be looking at ourselves. "Sanctity of marriage" here's looking at you, Josh.
Could this be a bigger lesson? Christians are sinning the same as everyone else. Did Ted Haggard teach us nothing about our pride? God's forgiveness is unlimited. We believe in his power to change hearts to come in and restore those broken parts. We need to be focusing on our broken parts and less so about what everyone else is doing. We need to shed that perfect imagine and embrace a perfect savior. I don't talk about my faith much here, but I'm talking right now to my fellow believers.
Anna oh Anna. No one would blame you. I hope this time can show you why condemnation is such a terrible thing. Though what a painful lesson to have to learn. I know from my own experience those lessons in humility can bring us to our knees real fast. I know that forgiveness is such a powerful and beautiful thing. If this is truly your desire, to save your family, my prayers are with you and keep treading water Momma.
If we truly believe in our God. Then he's bigger than any one person's sin. The road to redemption is a long one. Years. However, if we truly believe in this God. Then we have to believe in his ability to help us through when our lives are destroyed. When tragedy happens we still continue to exist. We have to find a way to keep moving through the wreckage. You don't get to judge how somebody fights through fire. Just like they don't get to judge you either; two-way street.
My heart breaks for Anna Duggar right now. My heart broke for people who have felt condemned by the Christian church. They're both tragic, both deserve compassion. Jesus hung out with prostitutes remember?? Let's not forget who we serve.
Down the path of forgiveness, salvation's waiting there
You built a mighty fortress 10,000 burdens high
Love is here to lift you up, here to lift you high
If you're lost and wandering
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory open wide
All who've strayed and walked away, unspeakable things you've done
Fix your eyes on the mountain, let the past be dead and gone
Come all saints and sinners, you can't outrun God
Whatever you've done can't overcome the power of the blood
If you're lost and wrecked again
Come stumbling in like a prodigal child
See the walls start crumbling
Let the gates of glory be open wide