Thursday, September 9, 2010

Emotional Aftermath: Tiger Woods' Divorce


“ … and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer — may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love” (Proverbs 5:18b-19)

            “Money can’t buy happiness. Or put my family back together,” lamented Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods’ now ex-wife, in an exclusive interview with People magazine, in which she opened up about her marriage and how it all fell apart. After reading the highly publicized article, “My Journey,” which graced newsstands the week ending Sept. 6th, I gained a brand new perspective of Elin as a mother and as a married woman.
            Some people may say, “Huh, she has nothing to worry about. It’s better to be divorced and rich than divorced and poor.” That may be true, but as Elin said no amount of money can put her marriage and family back together. Not even the reported $100 million plus settlement she received from Tiger.
            I feel compassion for Elin. Tiger’s adulterous affairs rocked her world, breaking her heart. “I loved him,” Elin recalled. “We had so much fun. … Our wedding day was one of the happiest days of my life.”
When she found out about Tiger’s multiple sexcapades, she said she was in “absolute shock and disbelief.” She didn’t suspect a thing. Which is quite possible since Tiger often traveled.
“It’s hard to think you have this life,” Elin said, “and then all of a sudden — was it a lie? … I have been through stages of disbelief and shock and ultimate grief over the loss of my family I so badly wanted for my children.”
I can’t imagine what it must be like to find out your husband (or wife) had never been faithful throughout your entire marriage. Elin said, she went “through hell” in the months leading up to the divorce.

Foolish Choices
            What in the world was Tiger thinking?
            Did he actually believe he’d get away with such egregious adultery? He didn’t just have a one-night stand or a relationship with one woman. He had ongoing sexual relationships with at least three women in the early years of his marriage and sexual relations with 10 others — or maybe more!  “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? (Proverbs 6:27-28) The answer is no.

            The Lord gives men a stern warning about falling into adultery: “Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house. … Many are the victims she has brought down” (Proverbs 5:8; 7:26). If only Tiger had heeded that warning. His life would’ve turned out differently. His marriage would still be intact; he wouldn’t have had to split up his children (See “Restoring Fathers to Fatherhood” below) or his finances, and he wouldn’t have lost his reputation and his integrity.
            How could Tiger not have known that being married and having affairs was wrong and that his behavior was risky and destructive? That he was in grave danger of losing everything? “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away” (Proverbs 6:32-33).
            His shame will never be wiped away?!
            Tiger held his head in great shame when he made his public apology to the world in February. And he’s been holding his head in greater shame on the golf course in recent months, as he’s long lost his winning streak: He didn’t come close to winning the Masters, and he scored 18 over par and tied for 78th place at the W. G. C. Bridgestone Invitational, the worst golf game he’s ever played in his entire professional career.
            It’s amazing when the truth of God’s Word unfolds right before your eyes.
            My prayer for Elin, Tiger and their children is that they would come to know the forgiveness found in Christ, and that the power of Christ would heal their broken hearts, restore their lives, strength and peace. In His Name, Amen!

16 comments:

  1. Well written article. A wonderful message...just wonderful.

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  2. Very well done. The verses you weaved into this blog post were most appropriate. The Word of God is so powerful. As you have so clearly illustrated, not even the richest and the most famous among us are exceptions to biblical truth.

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  3. Great posting, The principles of God's Word applies to us all. It makes no difference how rich, talented, or famous a person might be. The Lord is no respecter of persons. Thank ou for a great article.

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  4. I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You ~Ron

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  5. Hi Judith

    Thanks for your comment on my blog
    If what to respond to me my email is

    ronj1946@gmail.com

    Thank you ~Ron

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  6. Thank you for visiting my blog Judith. I am now following your beautiful blog. God bless you always! Brenda

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  7. Greetings -

    And such were some of us....

    Thank God that His mercy endures forever. We know that our Lord can change anybody because He changed us and delivered us from our wretchedness.
    Some of us were addicts, liars, cheaters, fornicators, whoremongers...
    But thanks be unto GOD for his righteous
    right hand and His holy arm that lifted us up from the miry clay.

    1 Corinthians 6:11
    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

    Psalm 40:2
    He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

    May GOD help us all...

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  8. @Lioneagle ... you are right on point! I didn't mean for my article to sound as if I am self-righteous. I am definitely not. I was a real fan of Tiger Woods. Almost had him on a pedestal. I'm just so disappointed in what happened. The choices he made. We all fall short of the glory of God. That is for sure! The depth of his sin was just so devastating. :-(

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  9. I was not making a judgment on your article relative to it being
    self-righteous in tone. I was simply reminding myself and others that such were some of us. Sometimes we are inclined to forget from whence we came. It can be subtle...but present...and sometimes not subtle but truly blatant self-righteousness. We are all subject but for the grace of GOD. That is why I ended my last comment with "May GOD help us all..."

    Your piece made necessary points....

    Thank you

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  10. I hopped over from The Old Geezer... WOW! This is so right on target. What a timely and important message. Thanks for sharing it.

    Blessings!

    Sonja

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  11. Great article. When something like this happens it is a reminder that we need to beware lest we should fall into similar sins. As a pastor I have counseled many wounded by adultery or who have fallen into an illicit affair. Most never realize what they have done until it is too late.Please feel free to check out my blog and leave a comment.

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  12. There are so many who have been fortunate enough to display the kind of fidelity that God requires in their marriages. Unfortunately, just as many, and perhaps more, prove daily that adultery is a particular destructive sin.

    It is not isolated, damaging the both the involved, and their families. Consider the Fall of Adam and Eve. Falling away from their "first love" devastated the entire human race, a shame that will never be wiped away...

    Yet, In Christ, it is! Imagine that. That Elin and Tiger could experience the kind of reconciliation that the Beloved experience daily by faith! That's what we they need to, and we all need to hear more often: pure "unadulterated" (pardon the pun)... Gospel!

    The devastation of Law is quite apparent in both of their lives because of the sin of one man (Tiger). Nevertheless...as a result of One man's act of righteousness came a justification that brings life to all (Romans 5: 18b) Jesus wipes away our guilt and shame! Something that all of us "adulterers" need to remember.

    Keith

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  13. I thought Pastor Ed made such a profound point last Sunday, in the first of his series on The Relationship Principles of Jesus, when he pointed out that people too often make choices based on immediate appetites that affect how their children see them, thus, the legacy they leave them, for generations to come.

    Broken families, not race, socio-economic status, or any other factor, account for the social issues affecting our children. The presence of only one biological parent in the home is the most prevalent factor in poor school performance, emotional problems, juvenile delinquency, etc., etc., according to a large meta-study of research over the last several decades.

    There are wonderful testimonies of how God and His church have intervened in many situations to overcome the problems associated with single-parenthood. With God all things are possible. And that is the good news that we preach - but it would be God's best that everyone be nurtured in a home with both biological parents.

    Lest one feel in some way a failure because they have not "achieved" God's "best", let me be quick to disclose that I have a son from a former marriage. I have seen too closely the pain and challenges, yet I have also seen the faithfulness of God. My son has turned out well, despite the challenges. I give glory to God.

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  14. So very true. I have thought the same things. My heart breaks for her and her children and even Tiger. His actions turned everyone's world upside down. Very sad indeed.

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