{"id":4738,"date":"2012-11-30T11:28:47","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T16:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/frenchrevolution\/?p=4738"},"modified":"2012-11-30T11:59:12","modified_gmt":"2012-11-30T16:59:12","slug":"should-holly-petraeus-listen-to-tammy-wynette-and-stand-by-her-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/frenchrevolution\/2012\/11\/30\/should-holly-petraeus-listen-to-tammy-wynette-and-stand-by-her-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Holly Petraeus Listen to Tammy Wynette and “Stand by Her Man?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Americans were dismayed and saddened by the news that our true military hero David\u00a0Petraeus had an affair with his biographer. \u00a0However, news out this morning suggests that his wife is going to try to make their marriage of 37 years work<\/a>, in spite of the infidelity:<\/p>\n

Former CIA Director David Petraeus reveals that he \u201cscrewed up royally\u201d in having an affair with his biographer.<\/p>\n

According to the New York Post<\/a>, the four-star general said in a letter to retired Brig. Gen. James Shelton that his wife of the past 37 years, Holly, will be staying with him despite the affair with Paula Broadwell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI screwed up royally,\u201d Petraeus said in the letter, the Post reports. \u201cTeam Petraeus will survive though [I] have obviously created enormous difficulty for us. Holly is, however, once again demonstrating how incredibly fortunate I was to marry her.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What do you think of this new development? \u00a0What would you do if you were Mrs.\u00a0Petraeus?<\/p>\n

As I was writing this article, I googled that old Tammy Wynette song, with its lyrical admonition to Stand by Your Man<\/a>.\u00a0 The video, which has Tammy wearing a pink, sparkly dress on a dingy front porch, does not inspire.\u00a0 Her face \u2014 under her magnificent motionless blond hair \u2014 is solemn and resolved as she sings some of the most depressing lyrics ever written:<\/p>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s hard to be a woman
\nGiving all your love to just one man
\nYou\u2019ll have bad times
\nAnd he\u2019ll have good times
\nDoin things that you don\u2019t understand
\nBut if you love him
\nYou\u2019ll forgive him
\nEven though he\u2019s hard to understand
\nAnd if you love him
\nOh, be proud of him
\nCause after all he\u2019s just a man<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sadly, too many people \u2014 including Christians \u2014 have dealt with the stinging realization that their marriage has been compromised by infidelity. However, are the only two options packing up your bags or accepting that \u201cafter all, he\u2019s just a man?\u201d (By the way, married men aren\u2019t the only ones cheating.\u00a0 Sadly, more women and mothers have caught up with men in the category of infidelity.\u00a0 Score one for equality!)<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a better way to look at marital infidelity that doesn\u2019t include overlooking the offense.\u00a0 In fact, Biblical Christianity doesn\u2019t allow one person to accept or minimize the betrayal.\u00a0 Only by dealing honestly with the sin is true restoration possible.\u00a0 That means, even though it\u2019s painful, there\u2019s hope. \u00a0Robert D. Jones, in his booklet \u201cRestoring Your Broken Marriage: Healing After Adultery\u201d writes:<\/p>\n

Whatever the action or intention of an unfaithful spouse, God has a life-changing agenda for you, a positive, redemptive purpose in this situation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While that might be hard for Mrs. Petraeus to see right now, it\u2019s a comforting truth that could possibly help her see a path forward. \u00a0But what about General Petraeus? \u00a0What about the one who\u2019s \u201croyally screwed up?\u201d Is there hope for him? \u00a0Definitely. \u00a0Jones writes:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hosea\u2019s marriage in Hosea 1\u20143 is an adulterous union that was restored by grace. As the observant reader learns, Hosea\u2019s unfaithful partner is a picture of our own spiritual infidelity against our husband, Jesus Christ. The Bible abounds with promises of God\u2019s forgiveness.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m not sure whether the\u00a0Petraeuses are Christians.\u00a0 (I\u2019m also not sure how to make \u201cPetraeus\u201d plural.)\u00a0 However, Jesus can restore, forgive, and strengthen a marriage even after such a public and embarrassing betrayal. \u00a0Jones writes:<\/p>\n

Our God delights in making broken things better than they were. Like a severed steel joint made strong by the welding process, the Redeemer can weld your severed marriage into something sturdy. The lives of many \u201cwelded\u201d couples attest to this. The God of new birth, new life, and new beginning.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(Read more about the Robert D. Jones book here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

General Petraeus has survived many trials \u2014 including wars, an\u00a0M-16 round to the chest, and cancer.\u00a0 However, he\u2019s now dealing with the issue\u00a0 we all \u2014 if we\u2019re honest \u2014 need to face at some point during our lives: our own tendency toward great sin.<\/p>\n

May we all have the grace to deal with it honestly, may the Petraeus family be restored, and may we look to someone greater than Tammy Wynette for inspiration for overcoming true heartache.<\/p>\n

Follow @NancyAFrench on Twittter here<\/a> and Facebook here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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