It was a hard episode to watch of “Little People, Big World,” where cameras reveal that Matt and Amy Roloff are going through a separation in their marriage.
Lens captured the heartbreak of Amy, their four children, and Matt’s parents, as they all try to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays with this new fragmented family arrangement.
Unfortunately for the families involves, media headlines are usually the first to report celebrity marriage splits.
Along with the Roloffs marital troubles, recent reports also include break-ups with singer Robin Thicke and wife actress Paula Patton, as well as actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
As a Christian in hearing of these marriage splits, it’s easy to be tempted to think “knew it wouldn’t last” or “no surprise here.”
Yet, as someone who cherishes marriage, news of marital woes among celebrities causes my heart to sink.
Marriage is challenging enough without the trappings of fame and notoriety. Marriage is sacred in God’s eyes, regardless of star standing.
With this sinking feeling, my heart is encouraged to pray for these couples, especially since the current headlines make it such public knowledge. How difficult must their situations be with the whole world watching, pointing fingers, and sharing commentaries?
Marriage Outreach
When it comes to marriages and families, there is no satisfaction in celebrity marriages falling apart but rather opportunity to intercede on their behalf.
Ways I’ve discovered to pray for celebrity couples include:
- Asking God to intervene in their situation through the couples’ families, friends, and associates.
- Requesting God to soften the couple’s hearts as scripture talks about the hardening of hearts as leading to divorce (Matthew 19:8).
- Praying for forgiveness, compassion, healing, and restoration where there may have been hurt, betrayal, and destruction.
When recent reports stated that Robin Thicke is working to restore his marriage, telling a New York Madison Square Garden’s audience that, “When there’s someone you love, you gotta fight for them no matter what,” I couldn’t help but cheer at his decision to fight to save his marriage.
A child of divorce himself, Thicke has made statements that he doesn’t’ want their child to grow up in two separate homes. Various media outlets also quote him as saying he’s just trying to win her back.
Marriage Reality
Along with headlines sharing relationship statuses, reality shows offer a look into celebrity couples, as well as the lives of everyday couples whose on-camera popularity can quickly make them a household name.
Sadly this rise to fame often destroys marriages, such as the very popular “Jon & Kate Plus 8” that hit the screen a few years ago. Our family loved tuning in each week but as their popularity grew, so did their marriage troubles.
It grew harder to watch each week, as concerns and prayers increased for their situation. It was heartbreaking watching the breakdown of this popular family.
Another reality show that aired a few years ago, “Family Jewels,” featured the band “KISS” bass guitarist, Gene Simmons a.k.a. “The Demon” on stage.
The episodes followed his life with his live-in girlfriend, former Playboy playmate Shannon Tweed, and their two grown children. Scenes highlighted Simmon’s avoidance of marriage with comments like “I was happily unmarried for over 20 years,” and “Marriage is an institution, and I don’t want to live in an institution.”
On the other hand, Tweed and their children expressed their hope for a long-awaited marriage.
Unlike many celebrity pairings, this one didn’t seem like a fairy-tale in the making but more like a nightmare destined to be doomed.
Yet, I kept watching this show that I just happened to tune-in to one day, and soon found myself saying heartfelt prayers for Simmons, Tweed, and their family situation.
And during the series, something remarkable happened. After going through a very public incident that caused much pain to Tweed and his children, including subsequent repercussions tearing them apart, Simmons had a change of heart concerning matrimony. He officially tied the knot with Tweed on October 1, 2011.
With their history, lifestyles, and fame, they may seem like an unlikely pair to have a successful marriage. Yet, my prayer is that they will make it “until death do they part.”
Marriage Support
Call me naive but it’s seems that celebrity couples are not all that different from most of us. Individuals with hopes and dreams of finding love that will last a lifetime, along with facing the daily struggles of being in a marriage relationship.
So when headlines report celebrity marriage struggles, my heart will continue to turn to prayer, cheering on their marriages from a distance.
And as I pray for them from afar, my faith is encouraged that God also has observers of my life, keeping my marriage and family in their prayers too.
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