She [the adulteress] gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

-Proverbs 5:6, NIV

Sometimes, the wife decides she would rather live life as a single person.

What makes this especially painful for those of us left behind is how shame is compounded to this deep wound. Society seems to have a category or trope for men who leave and cheat. This is not so much the case for women who do this.

However, these women exist.

Sadly, the abandoning cheater is not restricted to just men. Women can behave in this way as well.

This came to mind recently as I was listening to a popular country song. It is about how cowboys aren’t the only ones who leave. I thought it was a good reminder to us to see faithful husbands who have been left as well.

Here’s the song–“Ain’t Always the Cowboy” by Jon Pardi:

*A version of this post ran previously.