I've spent the last 3 years holding on to a past that's been a painful reminder of who I was, what I did to others or what others did to me. That past doesn't define me, and it shouldn't ruin my present or my future. I am sick to death of hurting. I was reminded today in a text from my ex MIL that "actually exW is not hurting about yall's marriage anymore. Its over. She has moved on with her life. I would encourage you to do the same." It stung. She had sent me some Bible verses earlier today and I responded with "God also said "I hate divorce"..., and Jesus preached against adultery. There was infidelity involved on exW's part. Y'all were lied to just like the kids and I were lied to. That doesn't diminish what I did. I know exW was hurt, and still hurts. I've been apologizing for over 3 years. Maybe that's not enough to address the hurt and the pain that I caused her. But what more could I have done...other than not screw up in the first place? I'd take it all back if I could. I had true remorse, I apologized, I asked for forgiveness, I did all I could to atone. I went to a Love Without Hurt Bootcamp, I took a Compassionate Parenting course, and I went to counseling. And I changed for the better. I am not the same person I was in that relationship. My behavior truly was reflective of how I felt about myself, instead of how I felt about her. I'm sorry she still hurts...I remember each and every thing that she remembers....and I'm deeply sorry that I hurt her. I was wrong. Plain and simple. But I did love her. And I never cheated. Never. And I know our family was wounded, but it was salvageable. I did not end our family. She did." My exMIL responded to that with the previous text.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." - William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830's.