Article By Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online // Relationships

It’s apparently still all love for Christian minister Pat Smith just over two weeks after publicly announcing that she and her husband, pro football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, have “decided to separate” and “move forward” after 20 years of marriage.

In a new Instagram post, the CEO of Pat Smith Enterprises wrote, “Embrace the present moment through love,” giving her supporters insight into her current mindset despite this tough transition for her family.

In a joint statement released online July 31, the Smiths said, “We are publicly sharing that after much contemplation and prayer, we have decided to separate. We will continue to move forward with love and compassion for one another, as co-parents and friends.

“We will work together in the best interests of our children, our family, community, and businesses. As we take this journey toward the next chapter in our lives, we ask for privacy at this time.”

Prior to going their separate ways, the former beauty queen and former Dallas Cowboys running back who holds the NFL’s all-time rushing record, made no secret of their marital challenges.

On their reality show, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” that premiered in 2016 on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Pat showcased the struggles of stepping out of Emmitt’s shadow after years of sacrificing her goals and aspirations to take care of their family.

“I wanted to be an actress. I wanted to be a talk show host,” said Pat, 49, in a previous interview that aired on Joel Osteen’s Sirius XM show, where she admitted that she had been “jealous” of Emmitt’s success while being a homemaker with unrealized dreams.

“I built resentment. I built frustration. I will be honest, I was very jealous of my husband, because I felt like, everything happens for you, and I’m here in the background, but what about me?” she said.

Emmitt, 51, whose megawatt celebrity image often left his wife feeling overshadowed, spoke to Dallas Morning News in 2017 when the Smiths were profiled in promotion of Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities’ pay-it-forward venture. He told the news organization that he leaned on his family to create balance and normalcy in his life.

“For me, when it comes down to family, everything else is off limits, period, because this is my sense of normalcy, and I want it to be as normal as possible,” he said.

As for the couple’s five children, Emmitt noted, “They didn’t ask for all this celebrity aspect of who their father and mother might be. They just want normalcy”—and he did all he could to give them that.

The pair just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in April. In an online tribute to Emmitt, Pat, who received her ministerial license through The Potter's House School of Ministry, founded by Bishop TD Jakes, wrote, “Thank You Baby for your willingness to do the joint work needed in marriage!! 20 years doesn’t come without a lot [of] work, prayer and a fight to stay together.”

After news broke of the breakdown of their union, prayers, love and supportive messages poured in from around the world.