Before I replied, Jim spoke up, “Mike, will you please respect other peoples’ beliefs?” I apologized to Mary and the rest of the class. Everyone is entitled to his or her beliefs.

Since that time, I became friends with a woman who also had an annulment many years ago. She is Catholic and confided with me she was married too young. Her husband was abusive and after only one year, told her goodbye. Realizing her mistake, she turned to annulment. In this instance, I fully understand her reasoning. However, Mary had been married for twenty-five years and had three children, so I felt her annulment was just an excuse to cover up her own mistake.

In spite of this, I felt better about my divorce and this class specifically. Jim had good ideas for recovery and I could tell he was doing well with his own. He had three years under his belt and I only ten months, so I could see that “Father Time” helps healing. Nevertheless, time alone is not enough; you must work at the healing process.