[Editor’s note: The author explains her family’s Lenten commitment to take the Love Dare here . Regular updates will be posted all through Lent. Click here to catch up on previous posts. Due to CE staff scheduling, we will not be able to keep up with these posts daily, but we will make sure they are all posted, even though it means they run past Lent. ]
Look at what causes division among family members. Pray about it, asking God to reveal our own part in it and discuss a resolution if appropriate.
“Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are ” (John 17:11).
Honestly, I don’t think the kids understand this one, but we are going to work on it. It is hard for children (especially the teenagers who are self-centered by nature at this age) to dissect a situation and find their own fault in it. They do understand identifying the issues and even praying about them. This was evidenced as my oldest daughter rushed off the morning Mass this morning before attending her first class. No prompting, she just had an extra hour and wanted to go. (Thank you, Jesus!)
My husband and I are actually going through a period where we are getting a long very well. Our problem is time. With demanding careers, long hours, kids with issues and well, just kids…. we have been struggling to find time for each other. We try, but it seems to elude us. The one thing we hadn’t done is to pray about it.
We sometimes forget that there is an abundance of grace in the Sacrament of Matrimony and that we only have to ask the Lord to give us some of that grace. So, we prayed. We asked the Lord to etch out some time for us to be alone. I desperately need my husband’s full attention, without the constant interruptions of children.
God works so fast. My husband found a break today between patients (um, that never happens) and actually drove home (half and hour each way) just to spend a half hour with me! Just the fact that he made that kind of effort for me, touched my heart and improved my mood. Why do we overlook the power of prayer in the day to day relations of our lives?
Lord, help us to remember to call on you for all things. Reveal our own shortcomings with those in our family, so that we might work at overcoming them. Grant us grace and Your mercy.
