Brokenhearted

I just spent an awesome vacation with my immediate and extended family last week. We were able to work in QT with several members of mine and my husband’s families around a Disney World vacation!

As I looked around many tables sharing good food and laughter, I remembered a common misconception. Children are not malleable pieces of dough that bounce back into shape in any and every situation. They are resilient to an extent, but sometimes their souls get disfigured. Sometimes they just plain crack! Have you seen the condition of play dough left exposed to air?

I spent time with several children, teens and young adults this past week. Some braving a smile, though their hearts breaking. And every single one of them dealing with the after effects of parents who are no longer together. Do they speak of the impact? No. But it’s the albatross hanging around their necks every day.

It’s really not about the state of your marriage, although a healthy marriage makes a healthier family for sure. Children need the security of growing up with both parents in the home. Period. Does it guarantee they’ll turn out “perfect”, no, of course not.  But it does make it less likely they’ll move through life as the “walking wounded”. Thank God Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1)!

This Christmas season, may you and your family know the love of the Father expressed in His Son in a fresh, exciting way (John 3:16, Ephesians 3:17-19). And may His love forever bind your family together!