DIVORCE

When Chloe reached about 3rd grade, the relationships of her friends' parents began to crumble. As a result of seeing this, one night Seth and I wondered who of our close friends would and would not make it, as the odds are stacked against all of us at 50/50.

Much to our dismay and error in judgment, our first of close friends have decided to separate. All us adults have our opinions, but what really matters here is what's going on with the children. Chloe's especially concerned about her friend and often brings it up.

I point blank asked her this evening, "How do you feel about it?"

"Well," as she rubs her fingers together and slouches back into the couch, "I'm really, like, confused and it feels like I'm in a dream, like it's not real." She adjusts slightly into an upright position and points to her head, "Like I'm sitting here knowing it's happening and think that I am sleeping."

This is so profound to me. She expresses the inability to apply emotion because divorce to a child is simply too complex to understand. Kids are naturally emoting beings, they throw in anger, cry in sadness, and jump in joy. For a child to sit or carry on and say they have no feelings about it must mean something.

Chloe is a product of separate households and has been for 9 of the 10 years of life, so I ask, "If you would tell her anything, Chlo, what would it be?"

"I'd tell her to stay out of the middle of them, that's the worst place to be."

Today's prayer: "Lord, I pray for all divorced parents, separated parents, and especially the children of these households tonight. Please make them whole by finding you. Allow each to lay in your arms tonight and provide them with a reassurance of security, being loved, and having thoughts unclouded by emotion. Give the parents divorcing the knowledge and strength to keep the children as far away from the middle of them as possible. You hate it, but know it happens. This is a group of people who need it most right now. I also pray for the friends of those divorcing, like Seth and me. We, too, are unsure of how to act, who to call, what to say, if anything. It is a confusing thing and time and we turn to you for guidance and closure as we and their children love each."