Marriage Moats-Start Anew

Published: Tue, 01/01/13

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

A new year has hatched. What does that say about the past? What does it suggest about the future?

I spent the last evening of 2012 with my husband and daughters watching a string of the original Star Trek episodes. My affections around the show are intertwined with my brother and father, and spending time with them. I would bring them ice cream and cinnamon toast, and listen to their assessment of the complexities of the plot, which were a tad above my nine year old experience of life.

It was a bit of a jolt to notice the disparity between what I remembered and what was on the screen. In my head the show was jam packed with action. But seeing it in 2012 I wondered if there was a union rule limiting how many actors could move on set at a time. In one scene, the crew members eating lunch seem nonplussed by the dramatic attack with a butter knife going on on the other side of the table.

There is no footage of my behavior from forty years ago. Being the mother there are scarcely any photos of me from the past decade. But I am curious what such a review would reveal about my evolution. Have I grown in compassion? Are my words less about me and more about serving? Has my relationship with John expanded with the opening of each new season?

It is a blessing that the tide around us invites us all to improve. Most conversations this week will begin with the same question.

"How will you upgrade yourself this year?"

I have acted on my intention to pray for another marriage each day. Delightfully, two friends wrote to say they are joining me. That triples the amount of good will floating around.

May this next stretch of time be an open stage for you to act on your goals. In a year let's sit down together and see how far we have come.

Photo by Joy Feerrar

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