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{Straight From the Heart}   *Peaceful Pines*  11/9/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"

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Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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Today's story by Sheryl A. Simons is a good reminder to us all about the devastating effects of divorce, but that peace may also be found in the turmoil....
Michael
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Peaceful Pines

By Sheryl A. Simons

  The "D" word still stabs my heart like a knife.  Divorce was something I
never imagined. How could this be happening to me?  All I'd ever dreamed of
was being a wife and mother.  I'd stayed home with the kids, finding ways to
make ends meet by gardening and canning. Marriage and family was always my
first priority.  We went to church as a family, but underneath a volcano
threatened.
  Growing up, I only heard the "D" word whispered between adults.  Now this
big ugly monster, divoce, was destroying my life, and threatening my three
precious children.  Of course, everyone reminded me how divorced children
were at such a disadvantage.  After divorce, I was told, they could never
become healthy, whole human beings.  After all, aren't you supposed to 'stay
together for the sake of the children?'  I prayed that my marriage wouldn't
end.  But it did.  It hit like a cyclone leaving everyone maimed by its
havoc.
  I couldn't help looking back.  What could I have done differently?  What
were my mistakes?  Negative thoughts permeated my mind.  All I wanted was
peace, but I couldn't even imagine what it  was.
  What could I do?  I could pray.  It wasn't easy to pray with a broken
heart.
  After sixteen years of marriage I had only five thousand dollars to make a
down payment on a house with, and a car with a monthly payment.  I'd never
worked full time.
  A set of circumstances brought me to put that down payment on a near 100
year-old farmhouse on twenty acres that hadn't been lived in for several
years.  The yard was a hay field with many big pine trees sheltering our
house.  It was all I could afford, and I was purchasing something and not
renting.  Everyone who didn't already think I was nuts, joined the ranks. 
The plumbing had frozen and was cracked and broken.  The day after I moved
in was spent repairing plumbing.  There were three tiny cupboards in the
kitchen that were practically falling off the walls.  The children, 10, 13,
and 15 hated it.  It was twelve miles from school.  But it was on a quiet
country road with a beautiful view.
  I thought things would get easier after the divorce, but anger escalated. 
Rage simmered.  The tug of war over the children strengthened.  For two
years we both pulled.  I one way, he the other.  I cried each time I had to
send my children to their two week stay with their father.  I hid my pain
the best I could from the children.  For two or three days, each two weeks
they came back it was awful.  They would be so angry with me.  I wanted to
hug them tight and never let them go, they wouldn't come near me.  They
hadn't seen me except for school functions, I would wonder, why were they so
angry?
  One night when I was alone, I rented a funny movie.  I thought laughter
would be good.  I started laughing, but the laughing turned to sobbing.  I
didn't care if I lived or died, but that night I felt God wrap his arms
around me. I didn't feel so alone.
  Finally, my worst fears were imagined.  He was taking my children.  Right
before Christmas he'd gone to a lawyer and had the children write letters
stating why they wanted to live with their father.  There was only one thing
to do.  I accepted it.  It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I let
them go. I thanked the Lord that He, their Heavenly father, was with them
24/7 and he really did know what was best for them.  He could be with them
when I couldn't.
  Funny thing was, they never left.  I never did know what happened, but
somehow when I quit fighting it, the war was over.
  Later, I remarried.  We began to make progress around our little farm. We
painted and fixed.  I planted flowers.  I experienced for the first time
what it meant to have a partner, someone who truly cherished and nurtured
me.  Out of the heartache of both of our lives, we found peace.  How could
we name our place anything but Peaceful Pines?  The kids, oh, their doing
great!  The two oldest graduated 5th in their class.   Both received
scholarships. Our youngest plays football and is on the honor roll. My
daughter recently said, "Mom, the divorce made me a stronger person." And
the best part?  When I hug them, now they hug me back!
  Funny thing about peace, you don't know how much it's worth until you
don't have it!

Sheryl A. Simons
s_simons@hotmail.com

Send Sheryl an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Sheryl works part-time at a domestic violence shelter in Michigan and is a
weekly columnist of "The Simple Life" in several area newspapers.  She loves
gardening, homemaking, and sunsets.  Sheryl and her husband Richard attend
antique car shows together.  Pizza night and putt-putt golf is a favorite
family activity when the kids are around.  Her life's ministry is to heal
families before they break apart.  She is recent chairman of the local
Christian Women's Club and loves speaking to women's groups and writing.

For a related story about divorce and the pain and heartache it causes in a family, check out a story I wrote last year entitled, "My Heart Aches."
It can be found in our archives at:

My Heart Aches
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/121399.htm
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Thought For The Day:

"A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder."
-Thomas Fuller

Verse for the Day:

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience this day."
Acts 23:1

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"You can either keep pedaling, get off the bike or fall over."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Women over 50 don't have babies because they would put them down and
forget where they left them."

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Sweat plus sacrifice equals success."
—Charlie Finley

Deep Thought For The Day:

"I've learned that your family won't always be there for you
- unless, of course, you win the lottery."

  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com  
/_/  \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20 

Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least!  Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too.  They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!!  You did such a beautiful job!  They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it.  Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.  My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too!  Thanks again!"
        
Kelli  (RKaGe@aol.com)    College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
 Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html

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Writer's Guidelines
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