The Pain of Divorce
By: Doug Long
Recently I was talking with my wife about Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
and Sesame Street. Mr. Rogers broached the subject of divorce on his
show because he sometimes used the personal experiences of the cast
for subjects that the show would cover. In this case Mr. McFealey was
apparently having marital problems. Sesame Street didn't cover the
subject, and the reason to me was telling, and one any adult
considering such a move should think about with all sobriety. Sesame
Street was going to do the show but when they showed it to a focus
group the kids got so upset that the producers decided to shelve the
show. What is telling to me is that Sesame Street did broadcast a
show about death. Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street died and they wanted
to explain it to the kids truthfully. I don't want to minimize the
pain a family goes through when someone close to them dies. As we
all know the pain can be tremendous. What surprised me was that when
parents divorce it can be every bit as traumatic to the child as if
someone close to them died, and in some cases depending on the kid
it can be more painful. The Bible speaks on the subject of divorce.
In Malachi 2:16 the author tells us,
16"For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one's garment with violence,"
Says the LORD of hosts.
"Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously."
Jesus in Matthew 5:31-33 says that marriage Is sacred and binding
31 "Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife,
let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32But I say to you that
whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality
causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is
divorced commits adultery.
I don't think anybody in our group is considering taking this awful
step, but I thought I would write on the subject anyway because it
is still important for us as parents to realize that the consequences
of our actions go beyond ourselves.
BACK TO START
16"For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."
Jesus in Matthew 5:31-33 says that marriage Is sacred and binding
31 "Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
I don't think anybody in our group is considering taking this awful step, but I thought I would write on the subject anyway because it is still important for us as parents to realize that the consequences of our actions go beyond ourselves.