Many kids know from their own experience what it's like when their parents separate. Others may know of friends who've had to deal with this in their family. Going through a divorce isn't easy for anyone. What are some of the things that can help families? The Kids' Sentinel talked with kids who've been there-and who've found that prayer helped them keep going.

Divorce can be really tough. And I should know. My parents split up when I was in kindergarten.

When I first found out, my face felt hot and I felt tears coming to my eyes. I was shocked and sad. Who wouldn't be?

When I was sad or afraid, though, my mom helped me pray. One of the things that comforted me was a favorite hymn that I like to sing. The first verse goes like this:

It helped a lot to think that God was all around me and that I didn't have to be afraid of change. And later, there were many things that also made me feel better about the divorce. Because I had two bedrooms (one at my mom's house and one at my dad's), two Christmases, two birthdays, and many other two's! Also, it helped that my parents lived nearby, so I could see both of them often. If your parents don't live close to each other, try to visit during holidays. And you can keep in touch with e-mail or letters, too.

My parents got divorced about eight years ago now, so I'm used to all the routines and schedules. You really do adapt. And now, my life feels settled. Occasionally I leave something at the other house, or my friends call and I'm at the other number, and that's frustrating. But generally things do seem OK again. In a different way from before, but still OK. And what I've learned through all this has made me more flexible and adaptable. I find that now I can help other kids whose parents are going through a divorce, too.

If you feel really bad about your parents' divorce, I suggest you talk to them. Don't lie or keep your sadness hidden. Always remember that your parents may not love each other the way they used to, but they do love you. And even if other things are changing, that love won't change. And no matter what, you can remember that your real Parent is God, who is with you always and who is always loving you, too!

Annie, 13

The biggest piece of good news about divorce is that you get over it! My experience has been that even if the situation seems awful at first, good things can still come out of it.

When my parents got divorced, I was four. At first, I was sad, really sad. But my parents did their best to make us kids feel comfortable. We got together on Sunday nights to watch The Wonderful World of Disney. We made a schedule. Every other weekend we would go to Dad's house. The other weekends we were at our mom's house. The best thing was that both of my parents made sure we knew they loved us very much.

Two or three years after the separation, my mom met my stepdad. He is a great guy! He coached my soccer team. He taught me to use the gears on my bike and helped me learn to ride a twowheeler and lots of other things. Now I have three grandmas, two grandpas, a whole pack of uncles, aunts, and cousins—and even a new baby sister!

Even though when the divorce happened, I wasn't really old enough to realize that I could pray about how I was feeling, looking back, I can honestly say that one of the reasons we all made it through OK was because of Christian Science. My mom says that this experience was like being in the wilderness, where at first you think there is nothing, but actually, the wilderness is a very quiet place where you can hear God because there is nothing else distracting you. Because my mom was working through the sadness of divorce with prayer, she was pretty calm and stable throughout the whole change. And because she felt calm, we felt calm and comforted.

I memorized verses from the Bible that helped me a lot. One of them was from Psalm 23: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." In kindergarten I had a blanket that I carried around with me most of the time, which comforted me. Mom told me how spiritual thoughts and ideas—from God—comfort you, make you feel safe and warm, just like my blanket. This Bible verse helped me feel God's love.

What I would say to a kid who is going through a divorce is that even though your parents might not get back together, God will help you. He will keep on loving you, just like your parents do.

Lucy, 11