With one daughter's marriage and the other daughter's childbirth just around the corner (love and life! both intricately connected), my reaction was strong when a 20-something male friend posted this sad status on facebook:
Early 20s: Watching your high school buddies get married.
Late 20s: Watching your high school buddies get divorced.
Feeling like I'd been punched in the gut, and angry at society to boot, I messaged him privately to get more details -- turns out there are small children involved, which adds to the tragedy. My friend is a good guy, and he's on the side of marriage, but after I challenged his claim that the young parents in question were "stable, responsible adults, aside from this" [emphasis mine], his follow-up question sent me:
...would you rather have two parents living together, at each other's throats all the time - or two separate but calm homes...
My response:
False dichotomy, Aaron*. We are adults. Barring true abuse, there is a third option. We act like adults and do what is right for the children and our marriage. It's the stable, responsible thing.
Not much else to add here. I just cannot stand when selfish adults hurt children because (as Aaron recounts their excuse) "well we just can't work it out".
Nope! Sorry! These are children's lives. You brought them into your marriage, and yes you can work it out. In fact, you must.
End of short rant for tonight. Pray for a renewed understanding of marriage and of sacrificial love in our culture.
*Name changed unless he chimes in! :)
Related post: Women: Save Your Marriage. In Five Minutes.
