I was in an accessories store over the weekend and came across something amongst the prom, bachelorette and wedding items for ladies. It was an entire section of sashes, buttons and sayings that reflected being happily and newly…divorced.
“Single again,” “Kiss Me, I’m divorced,” and “I’m no longer with stupid” were just some of the messages on these accessories for women to wear to a divorce party and proclaim their new found singleness. As a single woman, I honestly had mixed feelings about seeing the items there, but my first reaction was disappointment.
Marriage is something worth celebrating and acknowledging, but divorce? I know many singles who would rather celebrate being married than being single; but some women and men take it to the extreme these days and throw a party celebrating the dissolution of a marriage covenant.
It would be better to see garments and décor that were more relevant to healing, being whole, forgiving the actions of the past instead of commercializing behavior that can potentially lead to negative attitudes towards the opposite sex or marriage itself.
This mentality of “single again,” “happy divorce” and countless others as I’ve seen even on divorce party supplies can be problematic for singles who are trying to hold onto that last strand of hope that marriages with love and longevity do exist.
Now while it’s not likely that a Christian would want to celebrate divorce, this is something we are seeing in the world today. It can cause some singles to believe that divorce is like a normal breakup in a dating relationship. Divorce is the breaking of a relationship, bond, and covenant. It’s a sad situation and it affects all parties involved.
The hurt from a divorce lasts beyond the party.
Perhaps they got impatient in their singleness and settled. Maybe the idea of a wedding and having a mate was more important than maintaining the marriage itself. Maybe selfishness didn’t get left at the altar once they jumped the broom. Marriage somehow became more conditional than unconditional; less efficient instead of being more essential.
For singles, we can use this influx of divorce parties and proclaimed “liberation” as a moment to reflect. People handle news of divorces differently, and it’s healthy to assess where those feelings (anxiety, bitterness, vengeful, apathetic, sad, etc.) are coming from.
- Does divorce encourage you towards or discourage you from entering marriage yourself?
- What you can do now to prevent having to face divorce in your future relationship?
- What things are truly non-negotiable for you?
- How long are you willing to wait for God’s best to enter your life in His timing?
Singles who aspire to marry: don’t give up on the strength, purpose and covenant that comes with marriage. We have to be sincere in including God and His will in our romantic relationships.
Courtship and marriage is more serious to Him than it is to us. While I was disappointed to see the divorce celebration decor and items, it gave me a bit more drive to handle my single season right. This way, I won’t settle for less than I deserve or enter marriage with divorce as an option.
BMWK Family, What do you think about divorce parties?
Anonymous says
No, only married and divorced people are sucking the hope out of marriage