We wanted to believe in the perfect marriage. But the marriage of Elizabeth Edwards and John was not perfect. Her book, which will be coming on shortly is being talked about in the news. Apparently the New York Daily News obtained an advance copy where she says: I cried, I screamed.
She reveals that John should not have run for president. Her book is called, Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts in Facing Life’s Adversities
The forgiveness factor: But I do want to point out something important that I will say repeatedly, cheating may not necessarily be the end of a relationship. Elizabeth Edwards has written a book called Resilience. It is an inspirational book in which she shows us the power of forgiveness. New York Daily News
HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM A PIECE THAT IS ON THIS BLOG: Cheating, Chemotherapy, and Commitment / posted on August 13, 2008
The cheating privileges given by Samantha, Sex in the City, to her young lover while she was undergoing chemotherapy underscores the devastating effects of treatment. Although I wrote about it for my monthly Op-ed column for the Providence Journal, “Of DNA and Desire” I had no idea that the John and Elizabeth Edwards story would surface. Today the issue of infidelity is all the more poignant in the face of reality.
Commitment: John and Elizabeth seemed to portray a perfect marriage. Their family survived the tragedy of their teenage son’s death with an admirable sense of faith and love. Even though he wasn’t our presidential pick, we appreciated the family man.
Cheating and truth: But John and Elizabeth were models. And we needed an icon. Are we really appalled at what he did to Elizabeth or what he did to us? What happens behind closed doors is a matter between husband and wife. But when one is a public figure running for president then it seems all bets are off. Today the media is questioning their inability to do the digging to get at the truth.
But what is the truth? And what is the message? I like what Rabbi Shmuley Boteach in The Jerusalem Post a few days ago: “Why Men Like John Edwards Cheat.” He pointed out that Elizabeth believed John should continue pursuing his presidential dream despite her metastatic breast cancer. It was an example for their children to know that despite difficult battles, life goes on.
Commitment to children: The Rabbi says, “But perhaps an even more important lesson to convey to our children is that what will truly make them special in life is not becoming president but being committed and loving family members who always put each other first.
As we sit and wonder and judge – I am reminded of an often-quoted phrase from my grandmother, straight from the Bible, “Let he who is not guilty cast the first stone.”
(You may leave comments on The Examiner story about John and Elizabeth Edwards. See blue link to the right.)
Copyright 2009 Rita Watson