Brandon Twp.- Marge Sisson never thought she would get a divorce.
As she puts it, she was in it for good, ‘come hell or high water.? But when her husband, with whom she had shared her life for 32 years and had two children with, didn’t honor his marriage vows, she was the one to initiate divorce proceedings.
Their marriage was dissolved in 1998. Sisson, having no friends or family who were divorced or could relate to what she was going through, sought support, and found it, in a divorce recovery group.
‘I was second-guessing myself that maybe I wasn’t doing the right thing,? says Sisson, 62. ‘Going through the group helped me. There was a lot of validation from people listening to what you’re saying. They can understand and appreciate it.?
Now, eight years later, Sisson lends her support and a listening ear as the facilitator of New Beginnings, a divorce recovery and support workshop for men and women of all ages and all faiths, that deals with the issues of divorce while promoting healing.
The group meets from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays through Nov. 15 at St. Anne Church in the rectory, 825 Ortonville Road and is sponsored by Bethany Peer Support Chapter of North Oakland. The workshop is free and is not a singles group.
The group is meant as an outlet for divorced men and women to express their feelings.
‘They’ve lost faith in themselves, in God, and (the ability) to trust in others because of their relationship with their spouse,? says Sisson. ‘This is a means to restore their faith in themselves, others and God.?
The peer-to-peer group has an open-door policy, and those who are interested can attend any or all of the meetings, each of which will feature a video on different divorce issues and discussion on topics such as dealing with anger, depression and forgiveness. Sisson likens it to a 12-step program and notes there is a grieving period.
‘The break-up of a marriage brings anger and disappointment,? Sisson noted and cites statistics that 50-percent of marriages end in divorce. ‘You’ve lost a way of life that you planned to share with someone for the rest of your life… It’s heart-wrenching. All the hopes and dreams you had are gone. You have to think how are you going to support yourself and your children.?
For more information on New Beginnings, call (248) 627-8662or visit www.bethanyofsoutheasternmichigan.org.