PHONES!!!  I have a love/hate relationship with my phone!  I love being able to be reached whenever in the case of an emergency, but I also hate the fact that I can be reached whenever, when it is certainly not an emergency.  I love that I have the freedom to check my emails on my phone, but I hate that I feel that I always have to be caught up on email because it is at my fingertips at all times.  I love that I can upload a picture of my family having fun to my social media account, but I hate the fact that I get trapped on that social media account and waste countless hours a week scrolling through to see what everyone else is posting.  I know smart phones were created for convenience, but I am convinced that Satan had something to do with it!  I truly believe that Satan knew that we would use these phones to destroy our day-to-day life and our real relationships.    

A few weeks ago, we discussed marriage as a partnership like you’d find in an adventure movie.  Today, we need to look at partnership from a slightly different angle.

Yes, our differences can cause conflict or complementarity.  They can push us apart or join us together.  The reality, though, is this only works when both partners do three, specific things very consistently.

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12: 48 NAB) This line from the Gospel stopped me dead in my tracks this morning as I read it.  I have heard it several times before, but today it struck me in a different way.  It led me to think about my marriage and family life. 

“Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6.
Archbishop Chaput asked three things from the Community: do something for families, share the beauty of the liturgy and teach on the Jewish roots of our faith.

Christian and I took the first one to heart: do something for families.

I remember very clearly sitting with my husband in my Pre-Marriage Seminar, listening to a beautiful couple give a testimony on the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP) in their marriage.  They had five children and a sixth due any day.  My then, soon to be husband, looked at me and said, very clearly, "I will NEVER consider using NFP until you show me a couple that has used NFP effectively and has three children or less." 

I love the Sacrament of Marriage.  I love working with engaged couples.  I love FAMILY LIFE!  Because of this, I am always looking for ways to stay hopeful in a world where the sacrament of marriage is often looked down upon and where relationships, be it with spouses, family, or friends, are too easily thrown away.

Are you ready for battle?  Man, I wonder if that should be a question we start asking during marriage preparation!  When a young couple sets out and prepares for marriage the last thing they are thinking about is battle?  Hopefully, they realize they won't always get along, they won't always agree, children will do their best to pin them against each other, BUT, battle?  What do I even mean by that?