Happily ever after is a misnomer. Marriage is tough by
any standards. Some marriages are better than others, but we all struggle with
disagreements from time to time. Let's face it, we even frequently argue with
our self.
Arguing is not really a negative issue. It is how we
argue that makes it a problem. We can mildly disagree, vehemently disagree or
destructively disagree. These destructive fights tear the fabric of our
marriage, which affects our society as a whole.
Family life is stressful at best and almost impossible at
its worst. We allow our children to be involved in more activities than they
can bear, which puts a strain on the whole family.
Attempting to watch 4 different ball games played by 4
different children at 4 different gyms or parks all played at the same time is
an example of the crazy conflicts that can stress us out.
The best rule of thumb is to sign up our children for one
extra-curricular activity at a time, and to make sure that their schedules do
not conflict. If they are interested in various hobbies and venues, this will
be so much easier.
The financial strain on marriages today is enough to
break the back of the strongest couple. With both partners working fulltime,
the stress of homemaking and child rearing is also daunting, especially if
everyone needs their own room, TV and smart phone.
Simplifying life can be overwhelming, but will
drastically reduce the amount of stress on the family. With a more fluid
schedule, we have more time to enjoy each other's company.
Spending time together allows relationships to evolve on
the same level and in more mutually satisfying ways. We weather the shifting
winds of life as a family rather than alone.
Staying healthy emotionally, mentally, physically and
spiritually demands that we follow God's will for our individual and corporate
life. He has a perfect plan that sustains us through troubled waters and allows
these trials to strengthen rather than to dissolve our relationships.
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that the only way to achieve
lasting peace and joy in our life is to follow Your Spirit's direction each
moment of the day. As we increase our intimacy with You, our intimacy with
others improves as well. Teach us to keep our focus on our own fallacies and
idiosyncrasies rather than allowing our spouse's issues to take precedence in
our mind.
Remind us that we tend to blow their faults out of
proportion unless we humbly compare them with our own flaws. Please change us
from the inside out; keep us healthy in body, soul and spirit; strengthen us as
individuals, a family and a society. Allow us to be that shining beacon of
light to help others avoid the jagged rocks on the coastline of life. Help us
to continually work on changing one aspect of our life at a time that will
improve our relationships.
Thought for the Day:
As we take a searching moral inventory and decide what
will make us more fulfilled as a Christian and as an individual, we will
strengthen our personal life, our marriage and our family unit, and insure that
we can better respond to the grace of God in the midst of every conflict.
