Human Experience

I Love my husband Because I Love God

“My Husband abandoned me four times for four different women in a span of eleven years!”
exclaimed Badette, a 52 year- old public school teacher and mother of four grown-up children.

“I’m sure it doesn’t sound that big because wives are being abandoned everywhere. But what
was peculiar in my case was I have prayed so much for him to come back, waited, and accepted him
back each time he did; and I was even the one thanking him and crying for joy! Call it martyrdom.

“During the first and second times my husband abandoned us, I didn’t get much reaction family
relative and close friends. In fact they were even ones who reminded me that if he come back, I should
accept him and treat him as if nothing happened. But on the third and fourth times of his
disappearance, all of them told me that It would be a total insanity if I would still accept him,” continued
Badette.

Badette said that during those times that her husband was away from home, she never
stopped praying for him to return. When asked the effects of the incident on their children, she said,
“My children knew all about the goings on in our family and naturally they were devastated. We all
wished these never happened to us, but since they did, we just agreed to let our life go the way we
wanted it. I was very thankful to the lord for giving me these wonderful children. They even helped me
pray hard for their dad’s enlightenment and return.

“You see, I love my husband so much, and anytime I am ready to be a martyr for him. My
reason? I believe in what the Lord Said, ‘What God has put together, no man should separate’ (Mathew
19:6). I also believe that there is no problem that cannot be solved If the parties involved have the
serious willingness to settle it, most especially on marriage issues,” she continued.

“I was always hoping and praying that he would come back. And every time he did, I felt relieved
and happy. It seemed crazy as many others said. But no, for me this is not insanity, this is the real
meaning of the sacrament of marriage-love your spouse for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in
health, until death do you part. For me everything boils down to love. I love my husband, my family, my
neighbor, and my marriage – all because I love God. I had this idea about how we can love others more
deeply and firmly from a charismatic preacher who taught us that we can only love the way Christ loves
if we are going to love God first, and out of that love for God should flow our love for the family and
neighbor.

“Many were asking how I survived all these. Through prayers! I restored to prayers. I got this
inspiration to put everything in the hands of God through prayers. I got this inspiration to put everything
in the hands of God through prayers from former president Cory Aquino. I noticed that every time she
encountered problem about the country, government, or her family, she resorted to prayers and told us
to pray, and pray and I Cory was right because every time my husband went away, I just prayed very
hard that he would come back. And he always did. God answered all my prayers for my husband”
 Badette narrated that after last return of her husband, she tried her best to bring him close to
God through attending the Holy Mass and reading the bible together and finally, after so much
persuasion, she was able to convince him to join the charismatic community which she was very active
in.

“On the day that he was to attend the Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar, I was very nervous. I
prayed the night before that he would be able to complete the seminar without getting bored and
leaving.

“Then when the seminar started, I asked for a special intercessory prayer for my husband. I
observed that from the beginning he was already attentive. He even transferred to the seat closer to the
speaker.

“After the topic on God’s love. O noticed that he was near teas but kept hiding them by wiping
the tears secretly with his fingers. But when the salvation topic was going on. I saw him just letting his
tears fall through his cheeks and did not bother to wipe them anymore. Later on he was sobbing like a
kid already. And I felt really happy. I knew the lord has touched him”

Badette said that after the seminar, her husband approached and hugged her tight, crying and
profusely saying, “Im sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please forgive me’’

“That embrace was reminiscent on his embrace to me during our wedding. I felt his love the way
I felt it on our wedding day. I loved him more on that very moment”

Now, according to Badette, her husband is very active in their charismatic community. He’s one
of the top recruiters to their prayer meetings. She said he was even successful to invite the friends who
have taught him to womanize. Now all of them are active members of their community.

“I really thank God for the grace he has given me, for I Know without God’s grace I would not be
able to withstand the pressure and the pain. Now I am one happy wife with a faithful husband, loving
children, a thriving business, and most of all a greater faith in God who fulfilled a promise

That He will never leave me not forsake me”