We have all heard the famous adage, "A family that prays together stays together". Over the last few weeks I have experienced the truthfulness of this adage first hand. My wife and I recently watched a movie about a married couple on the brink of divorce. The husband was addicted to pornography and the wife was being tempted with infidelities. In the movie the family was definitely not centered around Christ and the principles he taught. In the end the husband turns to God and starts living his life in accordance to God's will. The husband and wife make it a priority and their marriage is saved.
My wife and I have an inspired document hanging on the wall of our home for everyone to see. Part of this inspired document reads, "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."
I whole heartily believe that if a husband and wife are struggling in their marriage if they turn to God and keep his commandments they can get through just about anything. Do I think that marriages can be successful that do not have a foundation built upon God? Of course there are marriages that make it in this life without that. However, I firmly believe that the struggles and hardships that every marriage goes through will be a whole lot easier to make it through if God is actively involved in that marriage.
Challenging issues that arise in marriages like, death of a child, severe illness of a child or spouse, immorality with a spouse or child, declining moral values in society, infidelities, priorities and obligations of the husband and wife, financial challenges in a marriage, loss of employment, mental or physical disabilities with a child, all can be overcome with greater understanding and commitment when the family has Christ as their foundation.
I have seen first hand in my own marriage that the times we struggle as parents and as husband and wife are the times that we are not involving God in our marriage and family as much as we should be. Whenever the fights start occurring, which they will in most marriages, it is almost automatic that the immediate fix to our problems is to get on our knees as a couple and plead to our Heavenly Father for help to overcome our current trial. As a follow up to our prayers we sit down as a family or couple and study the scriptures for guidance.
I am not educated in family counseling but I can tell you that the one sure way to get you through almost any challenge you will face is to turn to our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Follow the counsel given in the inspired document I shared earlier in this post. Be humble and willing to give in to the needs of your spouse or children. Lastly, follow the counsel of the Old Testament Prophet Joshua, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve......but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
No comments:
Post a Comment