Faith Filled Family Magazine August 2016 | Page 59

etbooks, too. Can you live on
less than what you make?
Your daily routine will be just
you, not both of you together.
The activities you both
enjoyed will be gone. In fact,
life does not really get better,
but it certainly will be different. You may decide to go
to a different church to avoid
each other. Suddenly all the
chores are your responsibility.
If you have children, you will
need a sitter when you work
instead of tag-teaming with
your spouse. Life gets tough
and lonely.
Divorce affects your family,
friends, and the people in your
church. Suddenly your married friends do not ask you to
spend time with them because
it’s awkward. Your children are
angry or hurt, so they act out.
Some of the people in your
church may avoid you or talk
about you as if you were wearing a scarlet D for “Divorced”
on your chest. Before going to
a divorce lawyer’s office, it’s
helpful to consider these outcomes (Shaffer, 2008). These
changes might be enough of
a reason to schedule some
sessions at a Christian counselor’s office with your mate.
It could prove to be more valuable than you know.
RESTORATION WORK

Restoring a marriage is hard
work, but its good hard work.
God never designed marriages to split apart (Mark
10:9). It often requires help
from qualified Christian professionals who specialize in
reconciling Christian marriages. Healing and forgive-

ness will come over time and
the pain is only for a season.
What comes from such good,
hard work is a deeper committed love for each other that will
blossom like a beautiful flower
growing up through the ashes
of former pain (Isaiah 61:3).
What an amazing opportunity
for greater growth.
*Names were changed to pro-

tect the privacy of the individuals in the stories.
Charlaine Martin is a freelance
writer, blogger, and owner of
Totally Fit 4 Life www.totallyfit4life.net. She has three adult
children and 6 grandchildren.
She lives in Michigan with her
husband.