I know I said my next post here would be all about my goals for the year, and my “One Word” for 2013. I already have it drafted but I’m just waiting for the graphic to go with it. (I’m SO excited about this, really! I hope you’ll stick around so I can share the post with you once it’s ready!)
In the meantime, allow me to take this time to honor my husband. We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary on Monday, January 7, and I got all mushy and decided to dedicate my post for the week on Philstar.com to him and our love story. I realized that, when it comes to having a healthy marriage, it’s the little things that matter.
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| Our latest couple photo 😉 |
I hope you’ll take the time to read that post, if you haven’t already. Just hop on over here. I’d love to know how you honor your own spouse, too, so feel free to leave a comment below.
Leaving you with these beautiful words about marriage from EWTN for now (emphasis mine):
A sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible reality. Matrimony is a sacrament and as such it is a sign to the world of the invisible God living in our midst – the living God who bears fruit in the lives of two people. They are a continual sign of His Power in the world. There is special grace and power within every couple God has joined together. Everything they do singly or together, is a living out of their sacrament. Simple things like washing dishes, running a sweeper, driving to work, struggling to make a living, budgeting a small salary to meet big expenses – yes, these and al I the other facets of life together, have power hidden within them to make them holy. Married life is the ground of holiness, love is the seed planted by God. Life together with its agonies and joys, pain and sacrifices, frustrations and tensions, moments of exultation and despair, all act as the rain and sun, thunder and lightning on a young sprout.
The faults and weaknesses of each one are compensated for by each other’s virtues. Each possesses what the other lacks. This results in a loving dependence on each other for spiritual growth and transformation. If a married couple can form a habit of looking at each other in a sacramental way – seeing the beauty of God in each other’s souls – seeking to enhance that beauty by upbuilding each other- mutually growing in the image of Jesus – then that Sacrament of Matrimony bears the stamp of the living God.
The faults and weaknesses of each one are compensated for by each other’s virtues. Each possesses what the other lacks. This results in a loving dependence on each other for spiritual growth and transformation. If a married couple can form a habit of looking at each other in a sacramental way – seeing the beauty of God in each other’s souls – seeking to enhance that beauty by upbuilding each other- mutually growing in the image of Jesus – then that Sacrament of Matrimony bears the stamp of the living God.
If you’re married, I highly encourage you to take the extra time this year to honor your spouses. Take the time to see the little things they do for you and your family, and let them know how much you appreciate them. Believe me, it will make a difference somehow.
Of course, relationships, especially marriages, that have God at the center, will be even more blessed! I know it’s a struggle to do this — to be in a “love triangle” with God and your spouse — but I’ve learned that, despite the challenges, you’ll find that married life will become so much easier.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
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love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
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Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
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Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
