Week 311

Positive post Sunday, February 12, 2023- Week 311. 

Yes, today is Superbowl Sunday, and I was tempted to write about all the “positive” time many football fans will be enjoying today with family and friends.  However, I chose to write about something much more important, the “Sacrament of Marriage”.  My friends who are die-hard football fans, I know you may want to tune out, but I encourage you to read on.  Who knows, perhaps you will see a connection between the Superbowl and your Super-spouse!

At Mass last night, we were reminded that each year, from February 7^th to the 14^th, we celebrate National Marriage Week USA.  During his homily, Fr. Arinze shared a few words of wisdom that I’d like to share with you.  On a humorous note, he shared the 3 rings of marriage, the engagement RING, wedding RING and suffeRING.  I must confess that I have given Michele some of the 3^rd ring over the years😊.  On a more serious note, the true 3^rd ring of marriage is the Eternity Ring, which symbolizes eternal love.  Speaking of eternity reminds me of Michele and my wedding song, “Endless Love”.  

When Fr. Arinze asked all married couples to stand up for a blessing at the end of Mass last night, it reminded me of how blessed we have been over the past 39 years (we will celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary this year).  I believe our biggest blessing has come from our Lord and savior.  He blessed us when we celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Bede’s church on June 18^th in 1983, and our strong faith has been the foundation on which we have built our marriage and family.  Fr. Arinze would also be happy to know that our marriage is also built on love that goes well beyond the minimum requirements.

We have both also been blessed with a long lineage of faithful marriages where the vow of, “until death do us part” was lived out.  Michele’s parents and all four sets of our grandparents were married until death did they part, and we are blessed to still have my parents with us.  They will be celebrating their 68^th wedding anniversary this year.

As noted by Brian A. “Drew” Chalker’s Reason Season Lifetime poem, people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Michele and I have and will be together until, “death do us part” (until we meet again with Our Father, Who art in heaven), because we came into each other’s lives for a reason, God brought us together to live lives of service to others in His name.

So, those of you that are football fans, if you want to impress your spouse today while enjoying the Superbowl Sunday festivities, let him or her know that, regardless of who wins the game or which commercial is the best, they will always be your Super-spouse, and in my case, my Endless Love!

How will you celebrate National Marriage Week USA?  Share your wedding photo or your wedding song (if you remember it😊).

Who has the Lord brought into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime?