Last year, as a new parishioner and recently retired, I felt God’s gentle prompting to host a marriage retreat. This meant asking the Pastor, who didn’t know me well, to take a chance and give me his permission to go forward. I appreciated his trust and vote of confidence as I pressed on with a date that landed at the end of National Marriage Week and the day before World Marriage Day.
Yes, that was Superbowl Saturday.
As someone with zero interest in anything that kicks, throws, pitches, tees off, punts, or putts a ball, I was blind to any other potential conflicts to that date.
The naysayers quickly reminded me of the Waste Management Golf Open, and Super Bowl.
Whatever, I pressed on.
For the first three months, I prayed and surrendered the whole business to the One who put it in my heart in the first place. I trusted and asked that He bring me whomever He wanted to speak at the retreat. He provided this with great ease. So I continued to surrender, as opportunity after opportunity, fell nicely into place, like an unexpected encounter with a local artist, Tom Hanchett. Since I don’t believe in coincidences and firmly believe God provides, I invited him to consider creating an original art work of the Holy Family, our patron saints for the retreat. He said yes. Oh, and he offered his talents as a graphic artist to design the promotional poster. Can you say, Thank you, Jesus! God continued to place in my path volunteers and situations that filled the necessary remaining holes until there were none.
I am happy to be God’s little St. Martha, working behind the scenes to make things happen and keeping all the components in motion.
Pay attention when you say yes to God because He will take care of everything.
Barb Lishko
When the retreat drew closer and the real work of cooking, wrapping, and administrative preparation approached, volunteers came out of nowhere to help. We had over one hundred and fifteen couples who signed up, and others were begging to attend at the last minute. We had couples wall to wall, and the joy and energy in the room were palatable.
I cannot recall an event that went smoother in over thirty-five years. God was at the helm, and it was so good. I finally learned the lesson to rely more on Him and less on me.
Ruminate in some of the shared wisdom.
Men run on respect. If a husband knows his wife respects him, he can handle almost anything and will strive to greater heights. Women run on the power of love. If they are assured of their husband’s love and appreciation for what they bring to the marriage and family, they are more content and happier.
Sacramental marriages are like a Monstrance, displaying Christ to others.
God shows up in our suffering. We can suffer our spouse’s conversion, which is a continual process from the inside out. Be patient with one another and love them through this conversion.
Regarding spiritual warfare in marriage, we need not be afraid; rather, Jesus has given us the weapons to fight against evil. His Word in Scripture. Do what Jesus did when tempted. God’s words are powerful. A baptized Christian terrifies the devil. Remain in a state of grace, go to Mass, and take advantage of the grace of frequent confession.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that love is to will the good of another. When we choose marriage, we choose to will the good of our spouse and children at all times and situations. Marriage is a saint-making institution; we grow in holiness as we continue to love one another, especially when it is hardest. Our marriage is the first school of love our children will ever attend. What will they learn from you and your spouse about the selfless nature of love? How does one treat and talk to a spouse in their future marriage? You are their example.
Never forget that in our sacramental marriage, God’s grace and power make ordinary men and women into extraordinary saints. God’s grace changes everything.
Do you ask for this grace every day for yourself and your spouse?
St. John Paul II stated, “Do not forget that true love sets no conditions. It does not calculate or complain but simply loves.”
This is what we are called to do in good times and bad, sickness and health, for richer or poorer all the days of our lives. It requires extravagant love, deep humility, forbearance, patience, copious amounts of forgiveness, and strength from God.
“Love and sacrifice are closely linked, like the sun and the light. We cannot love without suffering, and we cannot suffer without love.”
St. Ginna Molla, The Journey of Our Love
So profound in many ways. We have no idea how much we can accomplish with giving up our concerns and heartaches if we would just lift them up to the Lord to help us. Hope to make the next marriage event in the future. Thank you for an awesome message.