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. 6^th, 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 78^th 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!