A Friend for the Tough (and Easy) Times

James Taylor sang:     You just call out my name, And you know wherever I am

     I’ll come running, to see you again     Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call  And I’ll be there. You’ve got a friend *

For adults with divorced parents, when parents still force you to choose sides, you need a friend.

When family gatherings include stepparents, ex-steps, potential new steps, and assorted others, you need a friend.

When you find out your parents are divorcing after decades of marriage, you need a friend.

When stresses in your relationship or marriage send the cold fear of divorce through your soul, you need a friend.

Unfortunately, it seems people would rather see the dentist than share about their parents’ divorce with a friend. Between the “dirty laundry” stigma and the fear of the potential pain, we just won’t go there. However, dealing with the years-long and ongoing aftermath of parental divorce is something we shouldn’t handle alone. But don’t share indiscriminately.

We need a confidant A confidant keeps what you share confidential. Presidents have confidants. Pastors have confidants. Did you know even Jesus had confidants? The Bible records that Jesus told Peter, James, and John, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” Jesus separated these three again in the Garden of Gethsemane. **

The person you choose must be one you can confide in, bounce ideas off, lean on, and receive biblical wisdom from. It’s not required that this special person be your best friend. Also, unless your spouse is the ideal candidate, your confidant should be of the same gender. This is because sharing personal things can lower our emotional defenses and cause us to form a bond with the individual. It’s best to avoid this unnecessary risk.

Learning to trust again

Using confidants can be challenging for adult children of divorce, because we must trust them. Unfortunately, earning our trust can be like taking a favorite toy from a toddler—it’s given grudgingly. But, the alternative—keeping the barriers up—means the stress and pain the post-parental-divorce-life can create has no constructive outlet. And this is where many ACD’s find themselves.

The upside of confidants “A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ***

In taking this step, you’ll find that God, you, and your confidant are a formidable team. Where you are weak, they are strong. Together, you can overcome the divorce-related fears and other issues that block the healthy relationships you desire.

But what are the qualities of a confidant? We’ll explore that next.

* King, Carole, “You’ve Got a Friend,” Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon, Warner Bros. Records Inc.’t. 1971. http://lyrics.wikia.com/wiki/James_Taylor:You%27ve_Got_A_Friend ** See Matthew 26:36-38 *** Proverbs 18:24,NASB