tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post3979499677396392189..comments2023-08-09T07:48:53.962-04:00Comments on Bear Witness to the Light: What God Has Joined, No Human Being Must SeparateFr. John L. Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16167510362871783781noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-66123083030447299922009-10-05T10:07:57.032-04:002009-10-05T10:07:57.032-04:00Elizabeth, after reading your comment, I considere...Elizabeth, after reading your comment, I considered editing it for length. But the more I read, the more I knew that your story deserved to be told in full. <br /><br />I've been a priest for only a couple of years less than you've been married, and a member of the Diocesan Tribunal for more than 30 years. I agree with your comment that more couples today than in the past choose the "easy way out" of the problems in their marriages: They choose divorce, rather than consulting clergy members, marriage counselors, and joining support groups, to seek solutions that would help them to better fulfill the commitments they made "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."Fr. John L. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16167510362871783781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-81075530996896458412009-10-04T22:03:28.215-04:002009-10-04T22:03:28.215-04:00Putting aside abusive marriages (which probably we...Putting aside abusive marriages (which probably were NOT put together by God), it seems that promises today (such as the promise to remain faithful to each other) don't carry the same weight, or perhaps the ease of getting a divorce and the lack of any social stigma (in fact, it's almost a badge of honor these days) makes divorce the answer to difficulties when other answers might suffice better. My husband and I will celebrate 40 years in just a few months. It does not seem possible that so much time has passed. We have raised together 4 children, two of are seriously handicapped (one physically and multiply and one both physically and mentally), taken in three children belonging to other people (including a physically handicapped boy), and provided support to our son and daughter-in-law, who are now coping with two handicapped children of their own. I cannot tell you how many times we talked about divorce when the pressure was really high, but it never was the best answer -- and there was always that promise of "until death do we part." In reality, neither of us could have handled that set of children alone, but I have seen the birth of a handicapped child totally tear apart a marriage. I am proud of our son and daughter-in-law who are now raising two difficult children (one with a correctable birth defect and extremely gifted and one who is, as far as we know, one of only two children alive with her complex of defects). I know the stress on the marriage, but having a "helper" is also very, very important. As for the children, neither of our parents ever divorced, which set a good example for us, and the fact that we have stayed together through thick and thin sets a good example, I hope, for those three of our children who have married (two for 6 years and one for 11 eleven years). I would urge more people to ride those waves of emotional ups and downs and not ditch the surf board when the surf hits because being on top of the waves together is better than floundering around in the water alone! (Bad metaphor, but you get the picture...)<br /><br />Oops! Long comment! Cut it if you like.Elizabeth Mahlouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00334700057953625321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736427810720155529.post-32148908534656932472009-10-04T03:27:11.150-04:002009-10-04T03:27:11.150-04:00I think the uniqueness and specialness of Eve'...I think the uniqueness and specialness of Eve's creation points to the unique creation of Mary in the immaculate conception. Also, the sleep of Adam (who wakes to find himself 'married' to Eve) reminds me of the sleep of Abraham (who wakes to find himself in a covenant with God).Sarah in the tenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13680566205364331756noreply@blogger.com