Marriage Matters

February is the perfect month to write about the importance of Christian marriage. After 20 years of marriage and seven children, I have learned through the good times and difficult times that my marriage is not only a blessing but a gift worth cherishing!In a fast-paced culture where the divorce rate is estimated at 40 to 50 percent and is even higher for subsequent marriages, according to American Psychological Association, it is an appropriate time to focus on how we treat our spouses.To put these statistics in perspective in the 1970s, 79 percent of adults were married and in 2013 only 57 percent were married, according to NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

With Valentine’s Day approaching and this being the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Marriage Week, let us take time out to consider how to grow in our love as husband and wife. No matter how long you have been married, there is always room for growth in your relationship.

Make your marriage a priority

In this society, it is easy to live as “married singles.” As Catholic couples, we need to focus on our “coupleness” and spend time together. It is easy to “divide and conquer, ” but “couple time” is just as valuable. Consider taking time out to go on dates (even weekly). It might seem like a lot of work to get away for a few hours if your children are still young, but investing in your “couple power” is essential and trains the children to appreciate that you need time together. Click here to read more…..