My past did kill my self esteem and your right it also killed my dreams and took away any strength I had to try to live them. I was hollow. I broke down about two years ago and finally came to Christ fully last year. I am full of life now and full of God, I can only be myself and it's incredibly liberating and free it's still a Journey but it's better living than hiding from the past.

Thank you so much for this, it got to me deeply. I can't wait to get my hands on that book : - )

Michelle @growingmama

My recent post Growing Mama: My Real Life

A lot of the things written here seem sad and completely against the Christian values I believe in. No one should be passing judgement on anyone else's life rich or poor. Also I see a ton of stereotypes being pushed here about poor families and it really hurts.

A lot of peoples facts are just wrong, Food Stamps and Welfare (I assuming people are talking about cash assistance to poor women with children) are not the only thing included in the governments welfare fund, Social Security, SSI, Unemployment, as well as SSDI are a massive part of the budget dwarfing assistance to poor families. And many times the kind of talk hints to racially charged stereotypes, I hope that isn't the case here.

Also if you weren't aware many states have been actively removing women and children from there "welfare rolls" since the rise of The Tea Party.

Personally I think the programs should be changed with different requirements and standards, but not eliminated.

Everyone's family is different mind yours and live your life by example, invite these so-called people living off the government to your Church. I am sure many of you don't even know a person in your Church with this background sadly, otherwise you would not be judging you would be Guiding them through the Word so that they may live self-reliant independent lives. It really isn't about red or blue, we need to move beyond that. I am a Christian first. What are you?

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. - Luke 6:37

I read the original article and I feel like she left something out of the article. Toward the end she said, "One viewpoint is, "Suck it up, you made a vow, you made a commitment, stay married for the sake of the kids, doesn't 'until death do us part' count for anything?"
Another viewpoint is, "You only live once, people change, you shouldn't have to live unhappy and unfulfilled, the kids need to see what a happy, fulfilled marriage/partnership looks like."

But for me the huge problem with the entire story is that these women's fundamental unhappiness has nothing to do with thier husbands, but everything to do with themselves. They are unhappy on thier own and will remain that way divorced or married. Husbands aren't supposed to make their wife's personal happiness and joy that should come from God. I think for these women the problem really is the self. By the way I am unmarried so maybe I don't have the best perspective :)
Michelle