Today I learned that an old friend from high school was getting a divorce. She just found out her husband had been cheating on her. They have a 5 year old boy. Now, we all know, this is not anything new. Unfortunately, a story like this is all too common these days. And I wasn't even that close to this girl. We just found each other through mutual Facebook friends, and caught up with each other mostly through reading each others posts and looking at pictures. The thing about this girl, was that her life looked so perfect through Facebook. Her and her husband were both good looking. Like "model" good looking. Perfect bodies, in amazing shape. He was a firefighter, she stayed at home, and they lived in a huge house right by the beach. She was constantly posting pictures of their vacations, all to tropical places of course....lounging by the pool with drinks with little umbrellas in them. It's funny how "perfect" life can look through social media. Turns out they have been in couples counseling for quite a long time, and she just found out through a recent session that he had been cheating on her...with another married woman.
As I was reflecting on her story, I felt sadness for her, but I also felt so, so grateful for my husband, and the life we have made together. I have never professed to having a perfect marriage, or a perfect life. Matt and I have had our problems. We get stressed, we bicker, we fight. We can annoy the crap out of each other and often times we don't see eye to eye. But we also love each other so much, and when sometimes romantic love just isn't enough (let's just be honest, there are times when this is true), we are always the most loyal friends to each other...a team that at the end of the day, has each others best interest at heart. We may not be the young lovers we once were. We may not be traveling all over the world like we used to, with a lot less responsibilities, but we have an amazing, amazing life together, and I am so, so grateful. I am grateful for us...right now.
What are you grateful for today? Look around, because there are so many reasons to have a grateful heart.
15 comments:
What a great reminder for us all.
I agree with Nessa! And I think that would be so hard to have to go through a divorce because of cheating!
Ahhh - so true. I am blessed every single day to be married to my amazing husband.
And as for social media, I always try to remember that it's like comparing your life to someone's highlight reel. It's a good reminder. :)
Hon, this was so well said. I am so happy for you, that you have a realistic beautiful life. Not fake, not always unicorns and rainbows, but beautiful even in the hard times. I love that you're real and transparent on your blog. You are such a beautiful soul.
I, too, am thankful for my husband and son. They make my life so sweet. More tiring, yes, more work, yes, more responsibility, yes, but so so so much more sweet.
This is a wonderful reminder to never compare, especially when you just see the highlights on someone's facebook page or blog. Hoping your friend is doing ok! xoxo
Beautiful post. So sad for your friend - this is unfortunately all too common today. Grateful for a loving husband and a gracious God who leads us by his example of what love looks like. Thanks for sharing!
you are so right. my husband and i may not have a lot of money, be the most fit couple but i am very grateful for the relationship we do have. it is very sad that this is becoming more and more common.
This is a strong post. Here's the sad thing - I've been there before. Society makes everything "okay" to do things like this. It makes it "acceptable". It makes it easy to get out. But like I said, I've been there. I can only look to the future & learn from the past.
appearances can be very very deceiving, especially through social media. I have to remind myself of this many times when it looks like the grass is greener on the other side. Each time I hear of something like this, it is a reminder to hold dear to what we have because it is a lot to be thankful for.
hopefully they can find peace through everything.
So so true! Beautiful post. I too had a FB friend that i felt the exact same way about--thought her life was perfect! And the same thing happened to her. And just like you said, it broke my heart but at the same time reminded of the amazing blessings in my life and to be grateful for the wonderful life my husband and I have together.
Thanks for this simple reminder :)
Wow, she told you all this...? That really sux.... this post made me think though... but man, that's sad.
-liv
http://chocolivlovelaugh.blogspot.kr/
I have to second your gratefulness...my husband is also a wonderful man and couldnt be more blessed!
Very well said my friend. Dan and I annoy the crap out of each other as well ... but you are so right. We must remember to be grateful. And that I truly am. Thanks for the reminder!
Beautiful post and such a good reminder!!
I am grateful for Sundays, when life slows down and I can think. And for the backrub my little girl gave and for warm cups of tea. I blog about raising girls, I see you have a special one, check it out if you have time. www.pruningprincesses.com
What a lovely post! It's true that life can look so different on Facebook! I hope your friend finds a way to make her heart happy again! I don't think any marriage is perfect, but having a grateful heart sure makes a marriage easier!! Maybe being grateful for who you are with could be the cure for a lot of divorces.
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