Do you know Sarah Markley?
Have you ever read the way she can string words together?
Have you ever read her story?
If not, you are seriously missing out.
Really. Go read it.
Worth every *second* of your time.
Even if you aren’t walking her path.
You’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t see how easy it can really be.
How you could be writing this story too.
{For those of you new to this site, please read HERE to get a sense of what this is all about}
* * * *
I’d grown up watching my parents be married. Stay married. Not fight.
They went out of town once a year on their anniversary and stayed at a modest inn about 6 hours up the California coast.
They reconnected, I imagine.
“Can we come, Mama?” I would ask.
“No, honey. This trip is for your mother and me,” My father would answer.
When I went into my own marriage at age 21 I made the assumption that I would be married
for
ever.
In my home, a “perfect” non-confrontational marriage was the norm. My parents never argued, never blew up at each other. I supposed that I would get gloriously married someday and remain gloriously happy always getting along.
Four years after my wedding day and wedding night things went horribly wrong. I had assumed I was invincible. I’d assumed our relationship would be easy. I’d guessed we would never consider divorce.
But here I was feeling trapped, unloved and verbally beat down. I began an extramarital affair that would last for three years. I walked three years in immorality that almost destroyed me and I lived three years in the shame and horror of what I was doing.
One January afternoon I broke and confessed all in the space of a few hours. After that day, the rest of my life would be put in a different order than anything I could have ever predicted.
I was now an adulteress.
I now wore the proverbial Scarlett Letter.
I was recovering and repentant and willing to do anything that it took to repair my marriage, but life was now the AFTER and not the BEFORE. Everything about our lives had to be rethought.
We rethought the habits that had led to a destructive relationship: a prevalence of pornography, drinking to excess, a lack of boundaries with the opposite sex and the double life of ministry vs. prideful living. We rearranged our whole lives to face the Cross and we began, as a couple, to live honestly.
I never thought I would be living in a post-affair marriage. And that that affair would have been my own. I never thought that I would be writing and speaking to women sharing my story. I never thought I would have such a heart and passion to see young marriages healed. I never thought I would been able to stray so far from what was true.
Rearranged, yes.
But redeemed, restored, reclaimed, that is what mattered most of all.
[To read Sarah’s full story, click here...no really, go.]
* * * *
Sarah has chosen to fundraise for Dirty Girls Ministries, of which, she is a collaborator.
Don’t think you would never be a part of this.
Don’t assume.
Don’t scrunch your nose and look down it too far.
My guess is that Sarah would have never, in her wildest imagination, thought that this would be her story either.
Even if adultery never becomes a part of your story, help others for whom it might be.
This period’s prize is generously offered by Jessica McAtee:
Scentsy Full Size System, this includes 1 full size warmer of choice and 3 Scentsy Bars that includes over 80 scents to choose from!!! ($40 value).
There are dozens of warmers to choose from! One for every style!
HOW DO YOU WIN?
1) Subscribe to Life.Rearranged. Leave a comment in this post letting me know that you did. (1 entry).
2) DONATE to Dirty Girls Ministries. For every dollar you give, you get one entry to win. (unlimited entries!).
Take the $5 Challenge.
{Sarah’s guest post and fundraiser will run for two weeks, with a winner chosen on Friday, May 28th.}
Wow Jeannett, I didn’t think this would be the surprise blogger – but kudos to you and Sarah! I am on the other side of that equation – being betrayed and I am now almost a year into finding out about my husbands affair and and eight months since he ‘Just Left’. We were married for almost 21 years (actually still are) and have two children together. What I have learned this past year, with the help of alot of therapy and soul searching, of going thru all the emotions of hurt, anger, self doubt, self loathing, hate, no trust is that it is not the act of the affair that is the breakdown of a marriage, but rather what led to it in the first place. Although, I feel that I personally would never go that route, I understood why he did. I wanted our marriage to last, but that wasn’t all up to me. I never wanted my kids to be from a ‘broken home’, but I see it not as a broken home, but a place where Mom is really happy, preparing for college(so scared) and a new career. Their relationship with their Dad is moving forward, albiet slowly, but still moving. Healing has begun, and I have realized I am right where God wants me. Sarah will never have regrets, she has come full circle and that is awesome. There is hope after such a betrayal, and whatever ways it goes, you have to do your best to trust that God knows what is right for us, and use this time to really examine your failings and misgivings and try to become a better person from it. This is what Sarah has done and I wish her every success!
Blog Subscriber
Just dropping in from SITS! Seems like a great day to do so!! I’m headed over to read the rest of Sarah’s story.
.-= Heather @ Sugar ‘N Spice & Mostly Nice´s last blog ..new fence, old home =-.
love Sarah’s writing, her story, and her heart… thanks for sharing.
this is my first visit to your blog – LOVE it! loved reading about your story too… will definitely be back.
Sarah’s story is a bright ray of hope in this world where so many seperate “just because” – marriages can be redeemed. I love it. I’m a subscriber, of course, Jeannett.
.-= Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia}´s last blog ..{ sunshine } =-.
I subscribed, God Bless!
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
You know, Jeannett, as much as I like your new blog – thing, I really, really, REALLY, miss the more personal, funny, smart, GREAT one you used to do.
Wow…what a story….
wonderful blog…first visit here..
sandy toe
All of the guest bloggers have been amazing, but for some reason I just feel for this story. Its my favorite so far.
Amazing.
Love her post… I am a follower to both of you.
I agree, we should never “scrunch our nose” at anyone else stories… we are still in the same boat as they are… just when you think it will NEVER happen to you it does….
.-= Charissa Steyn´s last blog ..Hear Some of My Adventure {on video:)} =-.
What a brave and honest story. Thank you for sharing this. “Life rearranged” is a great concept that I am sure most of us can relate to.
Stopping by from SITS.
Sarah’s story is a beautiful one of redemption… I love how our God works all things out for good (Romans 8:28).
I can relate to Sarah’s story on a personal level. My husband and I went through a rough patch a few years into our relationship. We were on the cusp of breaking up completely but we chose to seek couples counseling first. That was the best thing we could have ever done. We just celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary last week and our marriage is stronger than ever, but we’ll never forget those days way back when, it could have gone either way but I am so thankful that my husband has a forgiving nature and I make sure to never put myself into positons that would tempt me to stray again.
I subscribed!
i read sarah every day and am glad to have found you as well! looking forward to visiting you regularly…
I subscribed to your blog :-)
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Why Mother’s Day is Hard for a Single =-.
I also read Sarah’s blog every day. I can relate to her on many levels (minus the marriage and kids). I was in a similar situation about 5 years ago just before I came to the Lord except I was the other woman. I am so glad that Sarah is talking about her story. Reading her story gave me courage to tell my own story. Thank you for sharing her voice here.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Why Mother’s Day is Hard for a Single =-.
I donated $5 to Dirty Girls too!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Why Mother’s Day is Hard for a Single =-.
Subscribed
I subscribed.
I subscribed to your blog. I read you all the time too!! She is very brave in telling her story.
I subscribed! Thanks!
Thanks so much Sarah for sharing your story and your journey. God is using you in mighty ways.
{Subscriber… obvs.}
.-= Julie´s last blog ..news flash. =-.