In the Game
“When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” - G.K. Chesterton
A big problem for couples who have been married for a longer period of time is complacency. We are faced with the responsibility of so much in our life that we often allow our marital relationship to go into ‘autopilot.’ With so much to do in our day-to-day life - work, house maintenance, raising children, attending activities, etc., we can often take our marriage for granted and forget to listen to and consider the needs of our spouse. Then, when we feel forgotten or neglected, we can move towards feelings of resentment or frustration toward each other. The solution: gratitude.
Do we take time everyday to count our blessings and to thank God for the many gifts He has given to us, or do we take them for granted and get frustrated with God when problems arise? Do we notice the things our spouse does for us on a daily basis and show them gratitude for these gifts or do we find ourselves often focused on all of their mistakes, faults, and shortcomings? Do we take time for each other and work to be intentional in our time together and in our communication with each other, or do we go into our own little world while we are together, through our phones and computers?
Going to church each week should remind us that we are called to be a people of gratefulness. The Eucharistic celebration of the Mass is just that. Eucharist (or Eucharistia) literally means “thanksgiving.” We go to Mass to give God thanks for everything we have and everything He has given us. But even this can be taken for granted. So, we need to continually awaken ourselves from our stupor, turn off our ‘autopilot,’ and work at showing our appreciation to God, our spouse, and our children, even if just in little ways. We should continually build up our family bonds and live with our heart and head fully ‘in the game.’
ACTION STEP: This week, seek out the areas in your family life where you have grown complacent and seek new ways to show gratitude.