(6/13) “There was one time we were at our son John’s baseball game, and the umpire made
(6/13) “There was one time we were at our son John’s baseball game, and the umpire made a bad call. Tripp started screaming so bad that the police escorted him off the field. There was always that side of him. When his temper would flare, it would flare. But I think the abuse escalated so gradually that I didn’t even notice. It wasn’t so much physical. He was big on calling me names. And he’d get in my face. Like right in my face, and I’d think it was about to get physical. But then he’d throw something instead. Or punch a hole in the wall. Why did I stay with him? That’s the million-dollar question. He was ninety percent good, ten percent bad. And the good was so good. Tripp would lead our Bible study group every Wednesday night. He’d say all these off-the-cuff things about faith, and marriage. Everyone would be so amazed. I thought if I just kept helping him, the good would win over the bad. It’s not like I did nothing. We were going to counselors, therapists. I thought I was being a good wife, and mother. I’d grown up without a father. At least my kids had a father. And they adored their father. Whenever there was a particularly bad fight, he would sit us all down in the living room. He’d say: ‘Daddy’s really sorry that he’s mean to Mommy, but I’m going to get help. We’re going to be the best family ever.’ It seemed like he genuinely wanted to change. When we’d go to confession, I’d be in and out in two minutes. But Tripp would be in there forever. A huge line would be forming behind him. I remember thinking: ‘What did you do?’ Over the years his mood swings got worse and worse. There was one night, about ten years into our marriage, when he lost his temper and pushed me into the bathtub. I thought I broke my back. I was screaming that I couldn’t get up. Tripp ran outside on the porch and I heard a gunshot. It took me a couple minutes to crawl outside, and when I got there I found him lying face down in the yard. The gun was in the grass next to him. He said: ‘When everything comes out about what I’ve done, I’m going to kill myself.’ I said: ‘Tripp, tell me. What have you done? What?’ But he wouldn’t answer. He got up and walked back inside.” -- source link