Tuesday, January 8, 2013

He Doesn't Love Her Anymore


She has been in a healthy marriage for 20 years. They have 20 acres of land, a nice home, children, and pets. She feels like she has it all, then her husband comes to her one day and says, "I don't love you anymore...I'm moving out."

Instead of throwing a fit, crying, screaming, and hitting him, she looked at him and simply said, "I don't buy it."  She then asked him, "“What can we do to give you the distance you need, without hurting the family?”

He would come home late often and spend holidays elsewhere. Instead of moping around and stewing about it, she made lemonade, cleaned dishes, and played with her children. 

She never spoke evil about her husband to her children. She told them that their dad was going through a hard time. Her friends thought she was crazy. She told them she was "ducking" and getting out of his way so he could solve his problem. She knew he was in pain.

Here is the rest in her own words ~

And one day, there he was, home from work early, mowing the lawn. A man doesn’t mow his lawn if he’s going to leave it. Not this man. Then he fixed a door that had been broken for eight years. He made a comment about our front porch needing paint. Our front porch. He mentioned needing wood for next winter. The future. Little by little, he started talking about the future.

It was Thanksgiving dinner that sealed it. My husband bowed his head humbly and said, “I’m thankful for my family.”

He was back.

She doesn't mention God or Jesus anywhere but she won him without a word. She lived her life humbly and simply in front of him and he came back. God's ways work for the believer and unbeliever alike.

She is a wise woman. She knew the value of keeping her family together and fought for her man. Women, fight for your man. Don't let the enemy destroy your precious family. This is spiritual warfare taking place in the heavenlies for the soul of your husband. Put on the full armor of the Lord every day and pray like crazy.

Love suffers long, and is kind...Love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4,7,8

Here is the entire article from the NYT ~

Comments (24)

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Wow. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.
i was in the same situation. after 14 years, my husband sat up in bed, stated he didn't love me, and moved out the next morning. the only thing i could do was give it to God...and i did. after 2 weeks, he handed me divorce papers. i told him i was not playing this game, it's his ballgame, and he would have to proceed without my cooperation. i felt led to move out of the house, and let him move back in, and did so. after 2 months, he started coming around, wanting to go to pastoral counseling together, rather than separately as we had been, and then asked me out on a date. God was answering my prayers! we have now been together another 7 years, and with a healthy, God centered marriage. these last 7 years have been better than the first 14 were. God is the ultimate healer.
2 replies · active 637 weeks ago
I shed tears when I read the article in the NYT and again when I read your comment, Lynne. God is so good and His ways so right . You also are a very wise woman.
Emma Kings's avatar

Emma Kings · 637 weeks ago

God bless you Lynne. Thanks for sharing.
I really want you to know how much I value your posts,Lori. I have been happily married for 2 years and need to hear your wise encouragement such as this.
Thank you for your faithfulness. I know you bring up topics that are difficult for most to hear and understand but it's Good and brings me hope for my marriage and hope that I'm not the only one striving to live this way. May God richly bless you!
1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
Thank you so much, Jodi. I sure wish I had an older woman training me when I was young. It would have spared Ken and me many years of pain...
God bless you so very much Lori. I have been married for 5years and never had any advice or encouragement such as this. I owe you so much for all of your advice that is transforming me to be a better wife and mother. GOD bless you.
3 replies · active 637 weeks ago
Thank you, Emma. I sure wish all the older women would train the younger women. It is such a huge need in the church today.
I couldnt agree with you more there Lori. I learn so much more from your blog than I do from the women at my church. My husband and I are going to a marriage course that is offered over 10 weeks starting in Febuary and I am looking forward to this. I only hope the church members running it are full of wisdom like you are.

My friends wonder why we are going as "if it aint broke dont fix it" where as I have learnt from you that a marriage takes work and its easier to work on any small issues when the marriage is a happy one. Do you think it is wise we attend this course?
Yes, go! You may be able to help some women at the conference. You may not agree with everything they teach, but I find there is always a woman or two at these conferences that need my help. I always go with the attitude of learning all that I can and trying to help others if the opportunity presents itself.
I feel like I stumbled upon your post not by accident! I would love some insight to a happy healthy marriage. Could I write you personally?
1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
Sure! My email is laalex2@aol.com.
How beautiful and true. Thank you for sharing this. It's a great reminder to live out our faith instead of preaching and nagging. May God bless you!

Keri http://www.growinginhisglory.com
1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
I want to thank you for your wonderful blog, especially the marriage advice. I wrote you for advice about a year ago. My husband is a "Mr. Steady" and wonderful. I was feeling some frustration. However, in retrospect, I know now that I was in some type of depression and that was causing it. Since then, we have been going through a major problem with our prodigal child and it really brings out my husband's good points and makes me wonder what I ever saw negative in him. I love to read your blog daily. Thank you, again.
1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
You're welcome. So happy to hear you are out of your depression which is a very difficult thing to have to go through. Yes, continue to be happy with your Mr. Steady. They make great husbands!
Excellent post - thank you
Excellent post! In a world where the bad news of divorce is everywhere, it's good to hear something positive. Thank you for sharing hope today!

So glad I found your blog. I'm now following and looking forward to reading more. Feel free to visit me any time. Blessings!
Truly a miraculous account. Regardless of the outcome I give credit to any wife for being so wise and courageous, for offering much space, compassion, and grace ... even if these things do not always work out this way.
Thank you for sharing this.
We know a couple that is going through a similar bump in their marriage. The difference is that, in this case, it is the wife who one day announced that she "couldn't do this anymore." She moved in with a single friend and has basically walked out on her husband and 2 kids. They got married young, she was 20 and he was only 22. Eight years later, she feels like she missed out. It has been 5 months and her husband is giving her space. He is holding out hope that she will come home. I hope she does, as they appeared to be a very loving, happy family.
1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
It is so tragic to see so many marriages crumbling around us...This is why I feel such a passion to mentor women as God tells me I am suppose to.
That is an incredible story. Thank you for sharing it!
What a shining example of love and commitment! Our culture doesn't make it easy to chose that route. It is a sad fact that sticking it out is harder than choosing to walk away. Love this!

Found you via "Be My Valentine" Marriage Challenge and so glad I did! Happy Friday!

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