Life's Big Battles
For my dear friend:
Everyday begins a new set of battles in the Shipley household: getting Garren to remember to take out the trash, Gracie's naptime, balancing the household budget, putting Gracie's shoes on, finding binki, getting Gracie to eat her dinner instead of throwing it on the floor...you get the idea. I guess having a family is like living everyday on the battlefield--you win some and you lose some, but all in all your family is still together and you smile and kiss each other good night.
I guess I don't really think of these things as a war. My mother cautions me to "choose my battles" with Gracie, and I try: like no touching the dishwasher (while it's open), no typing on the keyboard, and overlooking her atrocious table manners. But these things are what go on everyday in households across the world.
This past week I have been reminded that there are things worth fighting for. I believe that family is the foundation on which our society was built. Without the love of husband and wife, sons and daughters there wouldn't be much left to fight for. So, when it comes down to the wire, how can we not fight the biggest fight of all: to keep our family together? Arguments come and go and I know that in this day and age there are so many things bigger than who pays the bills or who takes out the trash--but isn't your marriage/family more important? I know very little about marriage or family counseling and I don't claim to know how to heal all wounds, I merely want to serve as a reminder that some of life's biggest battles are worth fighting.
Some times its pride that gets in the way, sometimes its fear of the unknown...but in a healthy marriage there are two loving people who have to communicate, swallow there pride at times, compromise, pray, and never stop fighting for their love to win out in the end. I, in no way condone a partnership or marriage where there is abuse; verbal or physical. But, barring such an abusive relationship, I urge every couple to step back and decide if what they are battling over, is enough to stop fighting for each other.
Garren and I are blessed to have such a warm and loving marriage, though we have had our share of "wars" before. However, should we find ourselves "battling" over one of life's big issues, I feel confident that we would stop and fight harder to keep our family together and make a shared decision.
Everyday begins a new set of battles in the Shipley household: getting Garren to remember to take out the trash, Gracie's naptime, balancing the household budget, putting Gracie's shoes on, finding binki, getting Gracie to eat her dinner instead of throwing it on the floor...you get the idea. I guess having a family is like living everyday on the battlefield--you win some and you lose some, but all in all your family is still together and you smile and kiss each other good night.
I guess I don't really think of these things as a war. My mother cautions me to "choose my battles" with Gracie, and I try: like no touching the dishwasher (while it's open), no typing on the keyboard, and overlooking her atrocious table manners. But these things are what go on everyday in households across the world.
This past week I have been reminded that there are things worth fighting for. I believe that family is the foundation on which our society was built. Without the love of husband and wife, sons and daughters there wouldn't be much left to fight for. So, when it comes down to the wire, how can we not fight the biggest fight of all: to keep our family together? Arguments come and go and I know that in this day and age there are so many things bigger than who pays the bills or who takes out the trash--but isn't your marriage/family more important? I know very little about marriage or family counseling and I don't claim to know how to heal all wounds, I merely want to serve as a reminder that some of life's biggest battles are worth fighting.
Some times its pride that gets in the way, sometimes its fear of the unknown...but in a healthy marriage there are two loving people who have to communicate, swallow there pride at times, compromise, pray, and never stop fighting for their love to win out in the end. I, in no way condone a partnership or marriage where there is abuse; verbal or physical. But, barring such an abusive relationship, I urge every couple to step back and decide if what they are battling over, is enough to stop fighting for each other.
Garren and I are blessed to have such a warm and loving marriage, though we have had our share of "wars" before. However, should we find ourselves "battling" over one of life's big issues, I feel confident that we would stop and fight harder to keep our family together and make a shared decision.
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