There is a lack of commitment, appreciation and selflessness in our culture today. We treat people like a sack of trash and deposit them out on the curb when they no longer meet our needs.
No one is immune
to divorce in this modern, disposable society. People want a
"do-over." They discard a mate as easily as an old pair of shoes.
I am blown away
by the phrases associated with divorce nowadays. "We have a stale
marriage", "We hit a dead end", "I am not in love with you anymore",
"I see no option for us, but divorce", "We have grown
apart", "God wants me to be happy", "I am not attracted to
you now", "You are too needy and I can't deal with it."
These are just a
few excuses, which I have heard as a Pastor's wife. You may know others. You
may have even heard a few of them in your own life.
People trade in
their spouse like a used car. When the new model comes along, they have no
qualms about making the switch.
They hope that
the grass may be greener, or that maybe this new person will fulfill them or
make them feel complete. They are willing to take the chance, excited about the
possibilities.
Whenever two
people marry they may eventually get comfortable, let their guard down and take
each other for granted.
They get
irritated with each other more often. Resentment grows and even anger. Old
wounds from their childhood drive wedges between them unless they get healing
for their past.
They may decide
they would prefer to live alone than with their mate whom they do not
understand and who no longer makes them happy.
They may feel an
animal attraction when they meet someone new and wonder about the potential. In
today's society of easy-divorce, the sanctity of marriage is part of the past;
but divorce is not part of God's plan for us (Malachi 2:16).
Prayer:
Father God, You
created each one of us by knitting us together in our mother's womb (Psalm
139:13-14). Even now, You know the exact number of hairs on our head (Matthew
10:30). Help us to cherish our intimacy with You and with one another too, and
to recognize the beauty and strengths in each other.
Teach us to
nurture one another and to appreciate the efforts we make to love each other to
the best of our ability.
Remind us that we
are all wounded individuals attempting to survive in this painful world, and do
not allow us to further wound each other by disposing of one another when our
carnal strength fails us.
Remind us to love
one another with Your Agape love. Help us to rekindle the flames of human love
by doing special random acts of kindness for one another, by dwelling with each
other with understanding and by meeting each other's needs above our own.
Thought for the
Day:
There are no
disposable people. - Malachi 2:16
