Marriage Moats-Tough Times

Published: Sun, 02/12/12

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

(If you want to hear Lori read the story click)here

Personally I am astonished at all the imperfections that show up in marriage. Just in the past few years I have listened to enough variations to keep me humble.

A woman whose husband works long hours, leaving her to parent alone
A man whose wife is angry and distant
A wife whose husband lost his job
A husband whose wife is emotionally unstable
A widow who faces years of loneliness
A wife whose husband is addicted to porn
A couple facing huge financial concerns
A couple whose child is making bad choices
A couple struggling with infertility
A woman who has not found the man she wants to give her heart to
A couple whose child has serious health issues
A wife whose husband was unfaithful

Yet all of them are still committed.

I do not run the universe, but sometimes I am tempted to put in a good word for these people. I pray for them. I pray a lot. But many of the difficulties continue without pause.

When my son played water polo one of the torturous tasks his coach threw at him was to hold a gallon jug of water above his head while treading water. It made me hyperventilate just to hear about it after practice. If I had been poolside I probably would have flung myself into the water and begged to hold the jug for him. But I don't think the elevation of the milk jug was actually the goal. It was probably closer to home, as in strengthening Micah's biceps.

I have deep respect for all of the people whose heavy hearts I hold up in prayer. My short term plea is often to make the struggle go away.

But maybe their Coach has a different goal in mind.

Photo by Joy Feerrar

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