Going through a divorce is a major life changing event. Making the transition from married life to single life can be a huge adjustment, especially if you were married for a long time.
When I was going through my divorce I had a good friend with a son with special needs. Her son, Joe, now happens to be my son’s best friend. When Joe was an infant he was diagnosed with cancer, lost a kidney, and had a seizure that resulted in a form of cerebral palsy. Joe was their third child. Having a child with special needs was a life changing event for their family.
Although divorce and a child with special needs seem completely unrelated, I was amazed at how much the experience of our circumstances correlated. Granted, I could not truly relate to having a child with special needs and my friend could not truly relate to going through a divorce. Yet, we were often surprised how we were able to comfort, identify and encourage one another as a result of our pain. To us, it was an example of how God can take our pain and the comfort we receive, to turn it around and use it to help others.
Transitioning through major life changing events may have more in common than we think. Take for instance the life changing event that occurs when a person’s outward appearance changes dramatically. Have you ever watched a season of the reality tv show,“The Biggest Loser“, and seen the transformation of the contestants from the beginning of the season to the finale? It is incredible how different they look in such a short period of time.
I do not watch much television, but I do enjoy watching “The Biggest Loser.” This season while watching the show and listening to the comments by the contestants, I realized how similar their transition from being obese to a healthier weight compares to one transitioning from married to single. If your goal is to be a healthier person in the end, you can learn some valuable lessons watching “The Biggest Loser.” If you want to learn more about this, read my ezine article; “Divorce: 10 Tips You Can Learn and Apply From “The Biggest Loser!”
Feel free to share your thoughts or similar experiences below.
Copyright 2009 Shelley Grieser All Rights Reserved
