this is not my story

“Would you be able to forgive an adulterous spouse?”

I remember a story that was told to me. Honestly I can’t remember if it’s just a story or someone who told it actually knew someone this happened to…

But “once upon a time” there was a young couple who got engaged, and then married. After years of living with the guilt, the woman came to the man and told him that during their engagement she had been unfaithful and slept with another man. She confessed that the reason she didn’t tell him is that she was afraid that he would not accept her, and would break the engagement. She sat there on the edge of the bed, her husband by her side. She was bawling. He got up, and left.

He drove and drove until he reached a wedding dress place. He went in, and bought a brand new wedding dress. When he came home he found his wife asleep on the bed, fully clothed, dried tears having run down her face and near her head where she was resting.

He woke her up, undressed her gingerly, and dressed her in the new gown. He got down on one knee, and looked into her eyes, declaring that no matter who she was, and no matter what she did, that he chose to see her as Christ sees his people and his church, spotless, blameless, and perfected by grace.

You’re a fool if you don’t anticipate sin and rebellion in a relationship, and you’re not really in love with someone unless you have Christ-like love for them, unconditional love.

I hope that my reaction to adultery would be similar. But I’m a single guy, so what do I know right?