Ash Wednesday: When Mercy Rains Down

Posted on March 1, 2017 by GREG

Image: Shutterstock

It’s raining here, today. Hard.

When I first woke up this morning and my eyes blinked open, I heard the rain pounding on my roof and the winds slapping against my window. My first thought was, “So gloomy. What perfect Lenten weather.”

My second thought was, “With how hard it’s raining, those ashes won’t stay on my forehead very long. What a shame.”

But my groggy, gloomy, lenten mood was immediately punctuated by yet another thought that could only have been the Holy Spirit whispering in my ear. “No. How perfect. We bring our shame to God and cover ourselves in ashes. And immediately the winds of grace and the rains of mercy wash the stain away.”

Today’s rain isn’t depressing. It isn’t gloomy. God isn’t weeping tears of sadness. He is crying tears of joy that wash away our sins and celebrate his children coming home.

This Lent, celebrate the fact that we are not defined by our sinfulness, but by the depth of his love and mercy. For more ways to connect how much God wants to satisfy the deepest longings of your heart, check out Broken Gods: Hope, Healing, and the Seven Longings of the Human Heart.

40 Days to a Better Marriage Tip-of-the Day for Tues 3/19: Celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast

Posted on March 19, 2013 by GREG

Today is the feast of St Joseph who, among other things, is the Patron of Workers. Today celebrate his feast in your marriage by surprising your spouse and doing one of the jobs around the house you usually leave for your spouse. Change that lightbulb. Clean up the kitchen. Bathe the baby. Give the gift of service to your spouse by doing something you wouldn’t usually consider “your job.” It’s a great way to both serve each other a little better and understand each other a little better too!

For the next 40 days, M2L will offer a tip-a-day for improving your marriage. For more help creating an exceptional marriage, contact the Pastoral Solutions Institute to learn more about Catholic tele-counseling services. 740-266-6461. And check out more great marriage-building ideas in For Better…FOREVER! A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage.

40 Days to a Better Marriage Tip of the Day–Get Marriage-Building Resources

Posted on March 14, 2013 by GREG

Couples who are marriage masters know that you can’t build a great marriage without great tools. Today, think about the tools you might need to take you marriage to the next level. Check out the the library or your local bookstore for a great new relationship book (you don’t even have to agree with everything the author says. Its about starting a conversation!), reserve your spot on a Marriage Encounter Weekend, check out the cool resources at ForYourMarriage.org. Do something today that helps you discover some new tools to help make your marriage everything God wants it to be!

40 Days to a Better Marriage Tip of the Day, Wed 3/13: Remember Your Spouse!

Posted on March 13, 2013 by GREG

We are busy with so many things. Too often, we lack what psychologists call, “object permanence.” We walk out the door and our loved ones “disappear.” We forget our spouse and kids (and they forget us) until we see each other again later that evening, but sometimes we are still to distracted to really connect. Today, remember your spouse while you are apart. Do something thoughtful to reach across the chasm. Pick up some flowers. Write a little note. Do that thoughtful task that would make your spouse’s day a little easier. Give your mate a call to say, “I love you.” Just because. Remember your spouse and remind each other that you matter–even when you’re apart.

——For the next 40 days, M2L will offer a tip-a-day for improving your marriage. For more help creating an exceptional marriage, contact the Pastoral Solutions Institute to learn more about Catholic tele-counseling services. 740-266-6461. And Check out more great marriage-building ideas in For Better…FOREVER! A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage.

40 Days to a Better Marriage Tip of the Day, Tuesday 3/12: Make a Decision to Love

Posted on March 12, 2013 by GREG

We’ve all heard that love is a decision. Today put that notion into practice. Imagine the day ahead and the time you will spend with your spouse. Identify two things that you can do all on your own (i.e., don’t require your spouse’s cooperation or input) that would set the tone for a more loving day. Will you give her the TV remote? Make him a nicer-than-usual dinner? Do the dishes without being asked? Wear that outfit he likes? Be more patient with those mildly annoying habits? How will you make a decision to love…today?

40 Day to A Better Marriage, Monday 3/11: 4 Steps to Becoming a Mindful Spouse

Posted on March 11, 2013 by GREG

A good marriage is a mindful marriage. Today, I’m encouraging you to do something small to cultivate a spirit of mindfulness in your marriage. Step one? Read this Faith on the Couch post on what mindfulness is and how it can be a blessing to you life.

Step Two: Think about the way you react to your spouse. Choose one of those less pleasant reactions and ask yourself how you would like to respond instead. Assume that you would feel just as irritated, annoyed, or frustrated as ever, but you could choose to channel that negative emotion into a healthier, more compassionate response. What would that response be.

Step Three: Imagine yourself successfully doing this new thing. Ask God for the grace to follow through.

Step Four: Keep practicing. Mastering your reactions takes time, but the effort will result in a better you and a better marriage. Keep trying and refining your effort in prayer.

It’s ok to get irritated with your spouse sometimes, but being mindful about how we respond when we’re irritated can spell the difference between being a marriage master…or a marriage disaster.