Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

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This morning one of my sons got dumped. I opened the front door to put mail out, and there was a bag full of his sweatshirt and dating momentos. Whoa! Where did this come from? I had to go hand it to him and witness first a look of confusion, then dawning realization, then pain, then anger as he grabbed his phone to demand an explanation.

The night before she was excitedly choosing colors for a summer wedding, giggling and cuddling, and generally making the rest of us roll our eyes while we tolerated their giddiness. Her explanation: I just realized that you're not what I want.

I didn't see this coming, but I realized pretty quickly that he has dodged a bullet. He's not close to perfect, and he knows it. When he doesn't know it, I'm quick to remind him. But he has all the important things firmly in place.

I am angry that this wasn't done in a kinder way, but I'm also grateful, because I think it will be easier to get over his broken heart if he can get mad. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way. Nobody does. What he's not ready to see is that some day in the not too distant future he will be with the love of his life and look up and thank God for this experience. He'll know what a truly good person he has in his arms in a way that he might have otherwise taken for granted.

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