Naked Truth
Posted by Nicole on November 29, 2013
Love and Making It is a series about wholeness and love, even more than it is about sex. Since sex is really about wholeness and love, anyway.
This post contains pictures of partial nudity. This is a simple warning. Now you may proceed as long as you are over 18-years-old.
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After adultery.
After years of secrets.
After hard choices.
There is still hope and healing.
When you need a reminder that miracles are possible through love and perseverance, return here and see.
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The Story:
After ten years of marriage, a husband and wife each committed adultery. It took them six more years to tell each other everything and come clean. Instead of running… instead of fighting each other to the death… they decided to fight FOR each other. Now, they are still married and choosing every day to focus on how to heal rather than the wounds of the past. This is not everyone’s story, but this is theirs.
In this guest post conceived by my dear friend, Jennifer Upton (in partnership with her husband, Tony, and a talented photographer named Kathryn Nee), we see another side of intimacy. We see what it looks like to let yourself be loved despite history, despite failures, despite self-doubt.
This is what it looks like to fight FOR your covenant love. This is what it looks like to allow words of affirmation and adoration to seep into your skin… the skin you didn’t think could be forgiven or beautiful or chosen ever again.
Words, truths, finally becoming part of YOU – seeping down deep into your heart. Forgiveness. Beauty. Love.
Below are pictures of Jennifer as her husband writes words on her skin. This entire process was not easy for Jennifer, but it has been holy and sacred and used by God to knit her and Tony even closer together. Tony telling her the truth of how he sees her now; she vowing to believe his words and let them become a part of her own truth.
The pictures have no filters or touch ups. They are simply black and white. The naked truth.
In the light of day, one man and one woman chose to express trust and love to each other in a manner that they hope will help you do the same.
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And so, she lay bare and he began writing.
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One word after another.
After another.
Truth of her talent.
Truth of her gifts.
Of her goodness.
Of her.
Words to confirm renewed promises.
And God’s design.
Truth she vows to believe.
As they soak into her skin and heart.
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Jennifer Upton is a storyteller, an excavator of the sacred, exploring the world with an open and listening heart, diving deep into the jungled areas of life to uncover the stories hidden there. She writes as an act of faith, sharing the gritty truth and beauty of life on the pages of her blog, Spiritualglasses.me and her photo blog Asharedlens.smugmug.com
maria said
Great post nicole
Nicole said
Thank you, Maria! I am honored to host this story. 🙂
Tara Owens said
This made me weep. It is so beautiful.
Nicole said
So beautiful. Stunningly so. Thank you, Tara.
Kathryn Nee said
I can’t tell you how powerful this is. Just stunning. It was such an honor to be part of this and I am in awe of how beautifully you wrote between the photos and how you ordered them. Wow… I’m obviously a photographer and not a writer! I’m speechless, haha :o)
Beth said
Oh Jennifer. Wow. Wow. This is exquisite. Vulnerable and profound. Powerful. Brave. Healing. True. I love this, and you. Thank you.
Diana Trautwein said
Beautiful, Jennifer. Thank you both.
Jennifer Upton said
Diana- thank you for naming this piece beautiful.
Tanya Marlow said
This was so moving. Wow.
Jennifer Upton said
Tanya- your words always mean so much to me.
Lisa rice said
This is absolutely beautiful! I love it..
Jennifer Upton said
Lisa- and I love you.
Esther said
Beautiful and brave. Thank you.
grace said
Oh wow. I am stunned. That was so incredibly beautiful and powerful! Jennifer, you and your husband are true warriors, paving the way for so many others by revealing your story of faith, hope, and love. And we all know that the greatest of these is Love. I am floored and humbled and blessed.
Melinda said
Beyond beautiful. Moving.
The Crowd in the Bedroom - 1000 Strands said
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Laurie Wade said
This is one of the most profoundly healing and beautiful things I have ever seen. Bless you for sharing so deeply.
Jennifer Upton said
Laurie- thank you so very much.I love that you described it as profound.
marvia said
You are a complete entanglement of grace and deep beauty – no words were ever more fitting and more lovely because you stand on the truth of rock solid love Jennifer! I love this. Pictures are powerful. Couple those pictures with words of love that matter and it’s just powerful. Thank you for baring your all. You are teaching us to be more brave, and this I love! And I love you my friend! Your story is showing and it is lovely to behold. Beauty for ashes!
Jennifer Upton said
Marvia, the most powerful part of the words you quoted was that Tony wrote them the morning before the photographer arrived. They were his, completely unprompted which just makes me gush with joy.
Chelsea said
This is beautiful…
<3
Your love is beautiful.
Cassie said
Jennifer, this brings tears to my eyes! What a beautiful story and powerful symbol of your love.
Robin said
“You are enough” oh how those words make a difference. I see such total forgiveness that so delights God and bursts open the doors of God’s blessings for you! My visual nature would have never wanted to wash the heart felt words away but my believing trusting heart would have let me. Inspiring, thank you!
Making Love - 1000 Strands said
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about said
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or
if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Nicole said
Hey there
we have tried it on other computers and it seems fine. how is it now?