"Our #1 job in Marriage is to get our spouses to Heaven!" July's meeting centered around a discussion of Spirituality in Marriage led by Emily West. Emily began by reminding us that God calls us, through Marriage, to serve Him and his Church. Husbands and wives are responsible for keeping themselves open to life, teaching their children our Faith, caring for each other, and supporting the mission of the Church. By putting Christ at the center of our relationship, we can approach any endeavor through mutual love and respect. The best way to center ourselves around Christ is through regular prayer. Emily discussed the benefits of praying with both your spouse and your children, and provided us with examples of how a Prayer Table might be used in a home. She also suggested doing everyday "things" joyfully and out of love for our families. Taking the time to talk with our children as we wash dishes, for example, makes the ordinary something meaningful and often provides the opportunity to engage on a deeper level with our families.
Another way to build love and respect in both our marriages and within our families is to foster a sense of service to God and others. As a group, we discussed ways to get our families more involved in ministry work. Even the youngest children can help make cards or place mats for the ill in our parish and community, and older ones benefit greatly from service opportunities at charities such as Catholic Parish Outreach or Habitat for Humanity.
Emily's discussion called us all, as Mothers and Wives, to serve as examples of God's Love and Charity in our everyday lives. Thanks for a great talk, Emily!
- Maria File
