When My Wife Left
When my wife announced that she was leaving, I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Sure, I knew things had not been great between us, but I never thought she would leave forever. I had a thousand questions, but they all boiled down to one simple question: "why?"
After years of trying and failing to挽回 our marriage, I realized that my wife's departure was not just about her actions. In fact, my contributions to our relationship were just as responsible for the failure as any sin she may have committed.
Our marriage was struggling due to a lack of communication and a growing disconnect that led to a growing number of arguments. She struggled to find fulfillment in our relationship while I was consumed with work and other commitments. Meanwhile, my increasing preoccupation with my career and other commitments left her feeling neglected.
In her final moments, I realized that she longed for more interaction and affection. She was lonely and yearned for the touch of a friendly embrace or a kiss goodbye. Our sexual relationship had deteriorated, and our lack of communication and intimacy left her feeling unfulfilled.
Reflecting on our marriage, I had failed to make much of an effort to meet her needs. I had been too focused on my own happiness, and I now recognized that my lack of attention and appreciation had caused her pain. My failures, both in hearing, seeing, touching and tasting our relationship, had contributed to our divorce.
Now, I am tasked with taking stock of what I missed and acknowledging the mistakes I had made. I must receive forgiveness from God and from my wife, and I must prepare to move forward in His grace. The bottom line is that I learned that making an effort to see and meet my wife's needs is important not only in marriage but also in personal growth.
