On Divorce

This is not a cheery topic by any means, but I felt I needed to say a little something about it. A friend of mine recently revealed to me that she and her husband have decided to get a divorce. This came as a huge shock to me...the couple in question overcame some amazing odds to be together, and the last thing I thought would happen was to see them split. They have 3 beautiful children, and my heart really goes out to these kids at a time like this.

Nobody can really say what it was that drove these two people apart. I'll go out on a limb here and speculate that stress over money, family, kids, and work played a huge role in this fiasco. We try our best to get through the day-to-day struggles that all marriages face, but I guess sometimes the struggle just becomes too much.

Hubby and I were both very saddened by the news. Talking about it, and speaking for myself, I came to realize just how lucky I am to have what I do. My own two sons, though I would do absolutely anything for them, can sometimes stress Hubby and I out to the point we get on each other's nerves. What we need to remember is that when we get to that point, we need to regroup and shift the focus toward a more positive direction.

Easier said than done at times, I know.

In the long run, though no relationship is perfect (be honest...there's always something that could use improvement), it feels good to be able to reflect together on the things that strengthen that bond between husband and wife. Sometimes it's as simple as looking at things from the other person's perspective, something we might overlook in the heat of the moment. (He came up with that one himself! I was so proud.) Other times, just talking about how each person feels can bring light to the situation, and the other party might never have dreamed you feel the way you do and was going along without giving it a second thought!

I hope we can both remember these points, if and when the need should arise. But in the mean time, I am thankful for what I feel is a wonderful marriage to a man I have continually grown to love and respect over the near-decade we've been together. I know not everyone can say that about their spouse. For that, I am truly sorry.

To anyone reading this who has gone through a divorce or knows of a couple going through it, I hope you are able to surround yourself with people who know and love you, and who are willing to walk with you through this devastating period in your life. Divorce is hard on everyone involved, as well as those closest to you. I sincerely hope that our friends will come through this without a lot of heartache and loose ends, and that their little ones will one day understand that their parents made this choice because they were really trying to do right by them in the long run.

We love you all.