And They Lived Happily Ever After?

If you had asked me in high school how I thought my future would pan out, I probably would have said that I'd go to college and meet my prince charming, we'd fall in, get married and live happily ever after, period. That's where the story ended for me because marriage was the happy ending. Isn't that what Hollywood has taught us? Well life and experience have taught me otherwise now that I am a little older. Marriage is only the beginning of a new chapter and it is not all sunshine and roses once the knot is tied. Marriage is hard work and requires effort. I learned this as I watched marriages and families who were close to me, break apart due to divorce. The harsh reality set in that this endeavor is not easy. I am so blessed to have parent's whose marriage has been strong and healthy. I have thankfully never had a first hand experience with divorce, but I witnessed the effects of divorce on my bother's marriage. It was heartbreaking to see the sadness and struggle that resulted. His children suffered the most as they were too young to fully understand why things changed so abruptly. I noticed how they were moody and upset when they would return from a trip visiting the other parent and I saw the true exhaustion it forced upon them to go back and forth between homes, all because of a choice that was not theirs at all. My brother will eventually remarry and then he will have to work through the challenges of a blended family. However I see hope through all of this because I believe in the institution of marriage and I know that happiness can be found in such great amounts through it. This brings hope for my future, my brother's future and all those who have gone through the heartache of divorce. I believe that God has a plan for our lives and if we trust and believe, we can realize how great that plan really is.