In a time of financial stress on many marriages, why are there less people getting divorced?

The Wall Street Journal had an article today about it:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124743668592229179.html

The conclusion: they can’t afford it. Many couples separate but do not want to lose money on their house so end up living together.

Here is the REALLY INTERESTING part of the article: One couple is still living together, alternating sleeping on the couch or in the bed and here is what it says about them:

Both say they are actually getting along better now that they are no longer in an emotional marital relationship.

“We’re a lot kinder to each other,” says Ms. Word, adding, “We’re not so offended and bothered by each other.” Mr. Word says, “We’ve actually developed or redeveloped a friendship that I think had gotten lost a little bit.”

Interesting huh!? Suddenly they learn to extend grace and forgiveness to each other because they are forced to. Suddenly they can be selfless instead of selfish because there isn’t another option.

Until Death do us part

This is why Kaelin and I made sure divorce was never an option to even consider. If we’re free to go as we please, we’ll get to a point where its easier to break the relationship than to admit we’re wrong or to break up instead of going through the pain of forgiving the spouse of their sins against us. If we treat marriage as a permanent fixture, we’re forced to deal with ourselves – admitting our own failures and forgiving ourselves- and to forgive our spouse of their wrong doings, annoying habits, inadequacies to please our every need, or simply differences in preferences.

Tim Bock of Jesus People once said: At the heart of community is forgiveness. A marriage is one of the most intimate communities, and therefore requires the greatest level of forgiveness.