It can be devastating when your parents divorce. It may seem like the end of the world, it is a catastrophe that generates misery that could last forever.

 If your parents have recently split up, then you might be experiencing feelings of shame, anger, wrath, anxiety, fear of abandonment, guilt, depression to mention just a few.

 Why Parents Break Up?

Some of the common reasons are:

1. In many cases, the split up occur because one parent is unfaithful
2. Anger and Abusive Speech: In some other cases, anger and screaming with abusive language has led to violence, causing one parent to fear for his or her physical well-being and that of the children – Eph. 4:31.
3. Rather than work out their problems, some opt out because they claim they unhappy or no longer in love.

 Whatever the case may be, no matter the reason your parents may give you for their divorce or may even be silent about it; that does not mean they do not love you. Wrapped up in their own hurt, they may find it hard to talk about the divorce or might be ashamed of saying it.

 What You Can Do?

1. Discern the right time to discuss it calmly with them. Let them know how saddened and confused you are over the divorce. Maybe they will give a satisfactory explanation, or maybe not.
2. Allow time to heal the wounds. You must understand that emotional wounds take time to heal. Some experts say that it may take up to three years to get over the trauma of divorce. It may seem like a long time, but a lot has to happen before life can stabilize.
3. Come to terms with your parents. You may rightly be angry with your parents over their divorce and disrupting your life. But can you go through life carrying a load of anger and bitterness and not harm yourself?

 The Bible asks us to “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath…. be taken away from you….. But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another.” (Eph.4:32). View your parents as humans who can sin and can be imperfect. Realizing this can help you come to terms with things.

1. Share your feelings. This may really help heal up the emotional wounds quicker. Confide in a mature Christian that you can share your feelings with, instead of isolating yourself. More so, take time to talk to your heavenly father about your feelings on your parents’ divorce.(Ps. 65:2). You will definitely experience peace and joy as you open up your heart to your Him.

Written by E Samuel [Ghana]