The Son/Daughter Bridge

The troubled lady sat in the row in front of me at church. Having spoken to her several weeks prior, I was aware that she was struggling in her marriage.

Before the service began, I gently tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “How are you doing?” Sorrow was reflected on her face. She mournfully responded, “I am not doing well.”

She proceeded to give me an update on her very difficult marriage. Her husband was trying to take away her two children (a boy and a girl). She had started the divorce process.

She told me that her husband was planning to show up at church that morning. (It seemed odd to me that she was unhappy about him coming to church.)

Not too long after the service started, her husband walked in and sat in their row. The son and daughter (appearing to be 8 to 10 years old) sat between their disgruntled parents.

Sitting behind the struggling family, I noticed both the son and daughter each reached out one of their hands to touch the dad on one side and the mom on the other side. It was as if they wanted to be the bridge to reconcile their embittered parents.

Children are truly the sufferers when their parents do not get along. Oh, how children long for everything to be right between mom and dad, thus making a secure, happy home.

Thankfully my parents never divorced, but I well remember as a child how insecure I felt if my parents were not getting along. Yet on other occasions, when I saw them put their arms around each other or give each other a light kiss, I felt extremely secure.

Sitting behind this feuding couple that morning, my prayer was that they would both allow God to step into their marriage and heal their wounds. Those two precious children were caught in the crossfire. It was obvious that they tried to be a son/daughter bridge to help their father and mother stay together.

Everyone is benefited when the father and mother are committed to each other. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).