My wife and I recently went on a “marriage retreat” as probably part of my renewal as a person. We stayed overnight in a hotel with 24 other couples, and listened to guest speakers who have so many things to say about love, marriage and family.
We were actually told by the organizers that we are not supposed to post pictures, especially on Facebook, so I wouldn’t be posting pictures from the retreat here. We were also told to just keep to ourselves what we learned there, so what I’m going to write is about my insight on the program.
I’ve always known, even before getting married, that family life is not easy. Coming from a poor family, I was a witness to my parents’ struggles. My father had to work abroad, away from his family to support us. My mom had to ran a small business to augment my father’s earnings. I always knew that when I get married myself, things could be the same.
My own married life had its ups and downs. But I was just so glad that my wife and I were able to breeze through the challenges successfully. In our sixth year of marriage, we have somewhat hit a certain balance – emotionally, physically, financially.
And when I thought I knew everything about married life – I was wrong. There are still so many things to learn, to know, to experience. Listening to couples who have experienced the worsts in married life, I slowly understood what it really meant to be a husband and a father.
The marriage retreat was like a renewal of our vows. I feel there’s a lot of change with the way I look at married life and how I would deal with the challenges. I know that the future is uncertain, and that I could not see where our path would lead, but I am confident that God is with us and that His will for us is that we be together. He will give us what we need to face that future.
I highly recommend a marriage retreat especially for couples who need more guidance on how to handle their relationships. I thought I was good. Now, I know I can be better. I can improve.
photocredit:denanburke.com
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