I guess I should preface this by explaining why it is that I have been feeling this way. I heard the official announcement of Jon and Kate Gosslin's separation for divorce. I sat in amazement as I heard just clips of what was said between the two of them. Having watched the show for the last 2+ years, I feel like I have invested part of myself into supporting their family and their values. Though I have never fully agreed with the way some thing were handled or the way they communicated, overall I felt like they were "making it work". I guess this whole issue caught me by complete surprise.
What has me upset is that it appears (whether true or not, only they know) that they have not gotten the right council or that they have not tried hard enough. I guess I am an old stickler. I believe that marriage is for life. There are few reasons why I find divorce acceptable. To simply walk away because it is too hard is not an excuse. Whatever happened to "For better, for worse, in sickness and in health...AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE"? Please do not mistake my frustration for judgment. I have friends who are divorced. Some of them I completely supported their decision. Some I did not support the choice but loved and still love them any way. I come from a home of parents who divorced when I was not much older than Jon and Kate's twins. My point is that I am not judging them, for that is left up to the Lord to do. But I DO believe marriage is a sacred union that should not be taken lightly. After 12 years of marriage and almost 15 years of being with my husband, I could not ever walk away from him. No matter how hard it has been, no matter how hard it still may get. I promised to walk through this life as his partner through thick and thin.
And for me THE hardest part is that they are Christians. It seems all to common among Christians to see this happening. And I'm not talking about infidelity. I'm talking couples who split simply because it got to hot for them to handle and it was easier to bail. Trust me when I say that my hubby and I could have used plenty of excuses to walk away in the past. I am a pretty emotional person and I know it's not been the easiest thing for my husband to deal with. His OCD and Narcolepsy have been enough for me to feel like throwing in the towel some days (not now but in the not so distant past). But none of the reasons I can list are excuse enough to leave. I am his and he is mine. We are to cling to one another and our faith in Jesus to pull us through anything we may face.
And do NOT even get me started on all those precious children who have to live in separate households the rest of their lives. That was the hardest part of the interview for me was seeing the kids sweet faces. The ones who have no right be caught in the middle of this mess but are. I want to love on them (though I'm sure they get plenty of that). My heart just aches.
Would you please join me in praying for them and for the marriages of fellow Christians? I feel strongly that we need to ask God to make Himself known even more in these sacred unions.
4 comments:
My parents adamantly enforced the belief that marriage was a life-long, one-time shot.
Shortly after Adam asked me to marry him an acquaintance was at my mom & dad's - a long story short, she ended up saying, "Divorce is not an option."
My dad looked at me and said, "Unfortunately it is." Those words struck as so powerful because I don't think that often enough people enter marriage knowing that divorce is an option, but an option that they will not enterain.
That probably doesn't make sense to you, but it sure did at the time.
And another thing I always think about when I hear of people getting divorced is, "Do you really think it is going to be better next time?" Like you said, there are situations that exempt themselves, but so often it's just frustration and boredom and that will always be an issue!
Amen, I'm completely with you on this one.
I share your heart in this. We recently watched the movies, "Fireproof", and "Not Easily Broken". Excellent for couples to watch.
i love hearing your heart..it is much of what mine says. i was anticipating their announcement- sad, i know, but I really was. i had heard so much and my opinions are this- that we should pray for them, but ultimately be praying that they can do this without adding more pain into their children's lives. it is just plain awful..no other way to say it. just awful. i don't watch their show- and i think it is so disappointing that i only know of them because of their marital woes. that is how the media works...against marriage, against the happiness of families...and that is very, very sad. i wish we could just hold each other accountable for what matters- our committments, our love, our honesty, our dedication to our spouse, family, friends, and ultimately, to God.
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