After a Saturday football game, my college coaches would take the game “film” and grade how each of us–athletes–performed in that contest. One category used in their film grading system was called “critical errors.” This label was reserved for mistakes so big that the mistake caused the play to fail. For an offensive lineman, a … Continue reading “Applying film grading lessons to infidelity situations”
Category: Trauma of adultery
If your (ex) in-laws are focusing on your “flaws,” save your breath.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. -Matthew 7:5, KJV When your (ex) in-laws are lecturing your about your “marriage failures,” you need to understand that they are part of the problem. Such lectures are unlikely to have … Continue reading “If your (ex) in-laws are focusing on your “flaws,” save your breath.”
Cheaters are quitters
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. -Proverbs 3:3, NIV Cheaters have quit on the marriage. They have decided to go outside of the marriage to feed their sinful desires. Instead of repentance, many choose to double down on the wide and easy … Continue reading “Cheaters are quitters”
What about the “unmet needs” of the faithful spouse?
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. -Exodus 20:14, KJV When adultery is discovered, many pastors and Christian counselors seem to lose their minds. They quickly jump into sleuthing mode looking for “deficiencies” in the marriage–not the cheater. All the focus is on the entitled cheater’s desires. It is a double standard. Two people were in the … Continue reading “What about the “unmet needs” of the faithful spouse?”
Bad sign when she is more worried about people knowing
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. -John 3:20, NIV Priorities are completely upended with cheaters. A Christian whose mind was not held captive by lies and deception would be ashamed of his or her cheating behavior. They would be … Continue reading “Bad sign when she is more worried about people knowing”
Not gonna out smart God!
…and be sure your sin will find you out. -Numbers 32:23b, KJV He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. -Job 5:13, NIV From my cheater’s response in the initial confrontation over her adulterous affair, I am convinced she thought I would never discover her cheating. She … Continue reading “Not gonna out smart God!”
Loss of “normal”
18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. -Isaiah 43:18-19, KJV When the news broke for me, I remember driving … Continue reading “Loss of “normal””
Choosing to divorce a cheater is NOT vengeful!
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned [to divorce her] secretly. -Matthew 1:19, NASB (footnoted alternate translation used in brackets) Do we consider a rape victim “hurt and vengeful” for choosing to have her rapist prosecuted for his crime? I wouldn’t. It is a matter of justice … Continue reading “Choosing to divorce a cheater is NOT vengeful!”
What about the damage to the cheater’s reputation?
“Keep it as quiet as possible. Just think about the damage done to other relationships if you tell them she cheated on you [aka the truth].” -Standard (Awful) Advice Such concern for the damage of relationships is too late in coming. Actions reveal character. Character often shapes reputation. If a cheater wanted a good reputation, … Continue reading “What about the damage to the cheater’s reputation?”
PSA: Do not send a list of why you want her (or him)!
Public Service Announcement (PSA): Do not send your cheater a list of reasons you want to remain married to them! Yes, I learned this one the hard way. Such a list only invites entitled contempt from the cheater. The last thing a cheater needs is someone stroking their ego. They already think they are awesome–even … Continue reading “PSA: Do not send a list of why you want her (or him)!”