Till Divorce Do We Part

Whether I want to or not, I hear about celebrity divorces all the time. The reason for the divorce is usually that old standby, “irreconcilable differences.” I do understand that there are situations where divorce is truly the best option, sad as that may be. All too often though, it’s simply the easy way out. If we reconciled these differing views before jumping into marriage maybe more marriages would survive past just a few years.

I found an article today about a debate going on in Oklahoma as to whether the state government should be focusing its attention on the state’s rising divorce rate rather than other issues such as health care and unemployment.

Some conservatives are proposing legislation that would require couples seeking either marriage or divorce to undergo counseling first. While Oklahoma does have the third highest divorce rate in the nation, others in government are blasting these proposed laws. They call them an unnecessary government intrusion into personal lives.

This article caught my attention because divorce is something I have always taken very seriously. I’ve noticed that my opinion doesn’t seem to be the same as that of the majority of our country. I think the reason for our lack of respect concerning the matter of marriage is this:
We just don’t take it seriously enough for what it is, a binding contract.

For many people, marriage is merely a temporary state that can be mended with a divorce when they aren’t having so much fun anymore or “fall out of love.”

If more people treated marriage as a lifelong commitment, I think the rising rate of divorce would see a definite drop.

Whether you’re married, single, dating or contemplating marriage, I urge you to think long and hard about your definition of marriage.

What do you want in a marriage?

Are your expectations realistic?

Do you and your girlfriend/boyfriend/fiancé share the same values?

Is divorce an option for you in the future or will you stick it out no matter what?

I think it’s important to answer these questions and many more and to get your ideas straight before involving someone else in your life. Too many marriages fail because they are based on a shaky foundation of infatuation and superficiality. No marriage can survive on that “butterflies in your stomach feeling” for long.

Another common factor in divorce is when one person expects the other to fulfill all of their emotional needs for life and to be pretty much perfect.

I’m sure any of you who are married will attest to the fact that no one is perfect, and that’s made even more apparent when you live in the same house.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where divorce seems to be the only answer, please make sure you think long and hard before you act. Divorce may be the best option for you. As I said earlier, there are certainly valid situations that merit divorce.

But just think about it first. Or better yet, think about marriage before taking a vow you or your partner may not be able to keep.


Also, here are a couple more recent articles I found to be pretty interesting.

Divorce and Kids

Living Together