Sue Birdseye - When Happily Ever After Shatters: Seeing God in the Midst of Divorce & Single Parenting

On my wedding day I received horrible news. My dad was leaving my mom for another woman. Dad told my new husband just as we were pulling out for our honeymoon because he didnt want me to be surprised when I returned. Divorce hurts. A lot. My heart ached when I read Sue Birdseyes story. Her husbands betrayal was like winter to the soul, but Sue turned to God, dug her roots deep in His goodness, and watered her pain with His word. God met her. God is meeting her still. Sues message of help and hope is a must-read for those wintering the loss of a marriage.

TRICIA GOYER

Author of thirty-four books, including the co-authored book Lead Your Family Like Jesus

Anyone struggling with the pain of spousal abandonment needs a friend to walk the journey with them. Sue wants to be that friend to you or someone you know experiencing the rejection of divorce. She knows how you feel. Her words will help you know you are not alone. Im amazed at her remarkable faith, her tenacity to keep going each day, and her sense of humor to keep laughing in spite of her circumstances. Read her story and share it liberally with the many others who need it.

BARBARA RAINEY

Co-founder of FamilyLife, author, artist, creator of www.EverThineHome.com, mother of six, grandmother of 19

With personal experience and Biblical insight, Sue Birdseye shares how to navigate the complex journey of divorce and single parenting. When Happily Ever After Shatters provides Christian wisdom and day-to-day comfort for the person experiencing the death of his or her marriage.

LAURA PETHERBRIDGE

International speaker and author of When I Do Becomes I DontPractical Steps for Healing During Separation or Divorce and The Smart Stepmom

This is the best book Ive read this year. Disarmingly honest, full of hope, and immensely practical. A great read for everyone, not just those whose marriages have failed. No trite answers, just real honesty. A courageous book. Get five copies. One for yourself and four to give away!

SUSAN YATES

International speaker and author of thirteen books, including Raising Kids with Character That Lasts

When Happily Ever After Shatters

Copyright 2013 by Sue Birdseye

All rights reserved.

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks. Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. (www.zondervan.com). Scripture quotations marked ( ESV ) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ( ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of Focus on the Family.

In some cases, peoples names and certain details of their stories have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, the facts of what happened and the underlying principles have been conveyed as accurately as possible.

Editor: Brandy Bruce

Cover design by Erik M. Peterson

Cover photograph of plant copyright Florea Marius Catalin/iStockphoto. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Birdseye, Sue.

When happily ever after shatters : seeing God in the midst of divorce and single parenting / Sue Birdseye. First edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references (pages ) and index.

ISBN 978-1-58997-734-1 (alk. paper)

ISBN 978-1-60482-651-7 (EPUB)

ISBN 978-1-60482-652-4 (Kindle/Mobipocket)

ISBN 978-1-60482-650-0 (Apple)

1. Divorced peopleReligious life. 2. Single parentsReligious life. I. Title.

BV4596.D58B57 2013

248.8'46dc23 2012040804

Build: 2013-02-18 10:40:07

This book is dedicated with more love than words could convey to my sweet children,

Zachary, Emma, Peter, Elizabeth, and Allison.

I pray that each of you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledgethat you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:1719, ESV )