“It was a mistake. Come on! Give me a break.” -Cheater
Adultery is far more than “a mistake.” The word just makes me cringe internally when I see or hear it used to talk about infidelity.
In one sense, the word is accurate. The person did something wrong. A “mistake” highlights that.
However, the word “mistake” greatly trivializes what the cheater did.
It puts committing adultery in the same category as forgetting the milk on a grocery run or taking a wrong turn on way to pick up a family member.
Adultery stretches the category of “mistake” beyond its proper use, IMO.
The cheater did not “just” sleep with the other person. It is far more than one sexual act. They engaged in lying and stealing along with that act.
The longer they hid it, the more premeditation and planning was needed. A mistake isn’t premeditated.
Cheating is.
Their pants just didn’t fall off on their own, after all!
An accountant who transposes some numbers because he is tired made a “mistake.” He deserves a break.
An accountant who transposes some numbers to steal money as a premeditated scheme has committed a crime called embezzlement. He deserves jail time.
A judge is likely not fooled by the embezzler trying to pass off his criminal behavior as “a mistake.”
Why should we–faithful spouses–be any different with cheaters pulling the same stunt?!
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*A version of this post ran previously.
