Unhappily Wed?

Published: Fri, 02/01/13

Hi ,

It might seem a little odd for me to talk about
divorce in a weekly marriage tip email to you.

But here's what I know:

Many more couples, Christians included, are
thinking about divorce than they let on.

Maybe you've thought about it, too.

Divorce, though, is a permanent solution to
temporary problems and frustrations.

In most cases divorce is not the answer.

In fact, studies show that most couples are no
happier 18 months after the divorce than before.

A few years ago, USA Today reported on a very
interesting research project that was conducted
by the University of Chicago.

It started the article by saying, "Divorce doesn't
necessarily make adults happy. But toughing it
out in an unhappy marriage until it turns around
just might."

According to one of the researchers in the
study, Linda Waite, "The most troubled marriages
 reported the biggest turn-arounds. Of the most
discontented, about 80% were happy five years later."


According to the team of family scholars at the
University of Chicago, and the Institute For
American Values, it was concluded:

  • Divorce doesn't diminish depression
  • Divorce doesn't increase self-esteem
  • The majority of divorces (74%) happened to couples who were happily married five years previously
  • 75% of unhappily married adults were married to a spouse who was happy with the marriage
  • 86% of unhappily married adults reported no violence in their relationship
  • Two out of three unhappily married adults who avoided divorce or separation ended up happily married five years later
  • When divorced couples were rated on 12 parameters of psychological well-being, it was discovered that they were no happier five years after their divorce.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it:

Your marriage is good enough to save.

Divorce is not, in my opinion, a solution.

All you need to know is that you have
what it takes to not only save your
marriage but to have a happy marriage.

You can do this - you can be mad about
marriage again...with the person you are
married to right now.

Until next week, this is Mike and Gayle
Tucker and we are mad about marriage!

 PS - Here's the link to that USA Today
article if you're interested:

The Truth About Divorce