For many people, the second their partner cheats, it's over. The devastation that comes with knowing the person you love pursued a relationship with someone else while they were supposed to be committed to you cuts too deep for many. But other people aren't ready to give up – and do their best to work through the anger and grief to heal the relationship.
Matt and Charity Craig, who have been married for 20 years, were faced with a heartbreaking struggle when Matt cheated on his wife. But the pair believed their relationship was worth saving and wanted to stay together as a family with their four children. It wasn't an easy road, but it helped Charity launch a career as a relationship coach to help other women heal after infidelity.
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The couple met when they were very young.
Matt was just 13 and Charity was a college freshman when the pair met through a family friend, they told People. But it wasn't until Matt turned 18 and invited Charity to his birthday party that their friendship began to develop into something more.
The couple dated for three years and married in 2004. They quickly had four children, and Charity told People their relationship was in "Survival mode," but soon things began to look up.
Matt took a new job, and the family was thriving.
Or so Charity thought. She explained that her husband's job was financially stable, but the pressures were mounting. Instead of having his wife at home to help as a sounding board and a safe place, she didn't understand the pressure.
"He kept telling me, 'I've got to get out of here,' but I didn't listen," Charity said. "I wasn't dealing with the toxic behavior behind the scenes."
Shortly after, Matt began flirting with a woman, and things got more serious.
"And there comes a time when you cross the line and then start rationalizing it," he told People. "But once you cross the line sexually, you think you have screwed up too bad to be a good husband, and you walk away."
The couple separated and worked on themselves first.
To heal their marriage, the couple believed they needed to heal individually. Matt left the home for about six months, and Charity said she began therapy and learning how to deal with her husband's infidelity and to build trust again. And it worked; the couple is now in a great place in their marriage.
"We talk about the affair in a more retrospective way now," Matt said. "We've actually been married longer after the affair than before it."
The affair helped Charity launch a new career.
The mother of four now helps other women who are experiencing infidelity through personal coaching. She also has a TikTok account where she shares helpful advice for others. Her tagline simply reads, "Your marriage can survive an affair. Helping women heal."
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Charity wants women to know that their marriage is worth it.
In one video, the text reads, "Don't apologize for choosing to stay and fight for your marriage. People are going to judge you for choosing forgiveness and healing. Let them."
Her words resonated with viewers.
"I'm so glad I stayed and fought. Married 25 years, together 27. It was definitely worth it," one person wrote.
Another person agreed, commenting, "thank you I needed this. it has been so hard. I feel like my kids judge me. they have been through all the bad he has done with me."
Charity left an encouraging response. "It is hard. Everyone has their opinions, but you're the one who has to live with your decision. Keep trusting yourself," she wrote.
