afterthoughts -- 2nd workshop for children of divorced parents

ran the 2nd workshop on saturday. it was slightly more light-hearted this time as we told stories and had the children draw pictures, and had some fun joint activities w their parents.

the children and their parents (one of their parents) had such a great time of playing. they were laughing away so happily, it was at that point in time that i really felt such a sense of fulfillment in my work. After working in the org for slightly more than a year, it's really the first time i felt such a sense of fulfillment. even while working w the children w special needs, i din feel this way, probably cos all the work at that side has been nothin but energy-zapping and a test of my character. but this, this was different.

i know tat aft the children and their parent walk out from the workshop, their problems won't disappear, but for tat short 45min, i believed they had fun, maybe the children only felt the fun, but i believed it meant so much more for the parents. it could have been a long time since they had done smthg so carefree and enjoyed each other's company. forgettin abt the ugly divorce, the awkwardness they felt, the anger, confusion, numbness abt the family falling apart. if we could more of these activities for them, for them to bond and all, i believe they would feel more of each other's love. it's not enough, but at least it's a start.

gg back to my prev post, saw the comment there. i thot abt it, and realised tat i do haf some friends in church from this backgrd. i guess it never struck a chord in my heart. i mean, i knda know their family bkgrd at the back of my mind, but it didn't feel as real as it is now. i never felt the need to be concerned, maybe i didnt even feel there's anything to be concerned at all, aft all, they seem quite ok. but now, it's different. i see my friends as survivors. Survivors of the divorce episode, survivors of their negative emotions, survivors who managed to pick themselves up and walk. Perhaps they havent completely walked out of the shadow of divorce, perhaps they may still be battling some issues, but i know that everyone of them can be overcomers. With Christ, we can.

And in a way, i noe my friends are blessed because they have found tat one true love that will never fade because of who they are or what their bkgrd is like, that someone who will always love and always care, the one who can give them strength and hope in the times when divorce rears its ugly head and threatens to tear the lives they have painstakingly built up. the one who will be there holding them in their arms when they cry out in the dark cold nite for a parent's love. the one who will gently speak when anger threatens to take over. the one who holds the power to break generational curses of divorce. The one true God who sent His only Son to redeem us from our sins, the one true God who holds the key to life and life to the fullest.

My friends, you are not bound by divorce. Your hope, your life, your value, your all is in Christ.