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December 16, 2013
The holiday season brings much joy to many, but it is also a time of great heartache and sadness for others. The Scriptures call us to look beyond the trappings of material gifts and to search our hearts for something of deeper value.
Marriage and family should be of deeper value. Yet amidst all the busyness, we often don’t take time to search our hearts. Instead of holding marriage to be sacred, we harbor feelings of anger, disillusionment, frustration, and pain because the dreams and expectations of marriage haven’t been realized. The myths we held of blissful love have given way to pressures of work, home and responsibilities. We realize marriage is a lot of work and we wonder, “Am I better off alone, without all that work?” For some, infidelity becomes an option.
Instead of struggling in hopelessness, give yourself one more precious gift this Christmas season: the gift of Retrouvaille. Retrouvaille is a French term meaning “to rediscover.” It consists of an intense weekend experience followed by six aftercare sessions to help continue the learning and healing. Retrouvaille can give you the knowledge of mature love and how to unwrap the gift of your marriage for yourself and your family. Even if you are separated or divorced, that gift can still be opened.
Joyce McDowall is director of the Bismarck Diocese office of family ministry. For more info, contact Joyce at 1-877-405-7435 or [email protected].