Divide and Conquer

Think a minute…Millions of children today come from broken families. Do they bounce back to live emotionally healthy and happy lives? Or is there any long-term damage to kids from divorced parents?

Recent statistics show that 90 percent of children from divorced families experienced serious shock, grief and fears, with 50 percent of them feeling rejected and abandoned. One-third of the kids continued to fear being abandoned, even by the parent they were still living with. Furthermore, two-thirds of the children experienced extreme loneliness for their other parent with whom they could not live anymore. In fact, 37 percent of the children were even more unhappy 5 years after the divorce than they were when it first happened. It’s a tragic fact that time did not heal their wounds and pain!

Even after the children of divorced parents became adults, 40 percent of them never married, compared to only 16 percent of children who grew up with both their parents. Children of divorce were more likely to use drugs and alcohol before age 14. They had less social skills and confidence, and were less successful at university. They were also more likely to commit crimes. Girls whose parents divorced experimented with sex at an earlier age and were more likely to get pregnant as unmarried teenagers. In fact, the evidence is overwhelming that the damage from divorce in one way or another lasts a lifetime.

Since marriage is the foundation of the family, it makes sense that if you damage the marriage, you do the same thing to the family. The strategy “Divide and Conquer” has worked to emotionally injure, or even cripple, millions of children. All of the long-term evidence is a loud and clear warning what divorce does to human beings and our relationships. 

If you have already divorced, there is still hope. It is never too late to put your children first. In fact, the only One Who can fully help you heal the damage to your family is the One Who created families. Won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for your mistakes and failures as a spouse and parent? Then ask Him to help you start changing. Only with Jesus’ real love, power, and wisdom can you begin loving and leading your children by example to become the truly happy and mature adults God created them to be. Just think a minute...

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