HUSBANDS Who DON’T PRAY (or wives)

HusbandsPray

HUSBANDS Who DON’T PRAY (or wives)

QUESTION:

Thank you Rita! If you don’t mind me asking, does your family pray the rosary together? I am trying to first pray the rosary myself and eventually get my family together. I really feel I need my husband to lead this though.

ANSWER:

The ideal family has the father as the head, as Christ’s representative. And yes, ideally this means the husband leads the rosary too. But for those new to the faith that can be a lot of work or those married to a non-Catholic even more difficult, if not impossible.

If we ourselves have barely learned the rosary we might even be nervous to say it as a family. I sure remember being self conscious about it. We can quickly feel like a failure right from the start!

How many of us look at other families with perfect, obedient, children?

We all know at least ‘one’ family like this. We naively assume what crosses they have; only wishing our family was so perfect with dad at the head.

yeah, well crosses are what get us to heaven…

I always say God never runs out of ways to give us our unique crosses, for some of us that will be our spouse. Some look here and there for a better cross not realizing it is there right in front of our eyes. We have to pray for the strength and courage to see Gods will in all of our crosses otherwise they are empty and shallow.

Every family has a cross of some kind or another. There really is no ‘perfect’ family and the devil is working full time to ensure that you think your family is not as good as the next. While we all wish for our husbands to be the head of the family, some of us were not so ‘smart’ when we got married. Eh? Sound familiar? Yes, me too. 🙂

Some of us didn’t find our faith until AFTER our marriage too. Yes, actually a lot of us! That means we have to drag our poor husbands along after us don’t we? They are wondering just what they got themselves into. Heaven help them!

But, once we make this commitment to our faith we are on a one-way street. With our new-found zeal, there’s no stopping us, we rant and rave against our now ‘heretical’ husband. We nag him and accost him for how much he doesn’t measure up to our “new’ standard.

It is true a couple needs to be united in leading the family. So we fret and worry what a bad example we are to our kids. But, we have to find ways to make this work even if one parent is not exactly on board with us, otherwise, our marriage will end up on the cutting board. Yes, unfortunately.

How do we run a life with an unevenly yoked spouse?

What about those Saints that had pagan parents and such? What is to account for that? They turned out okay. Saints like St. Rita that became a great saint and converted her husband with her patience and prayers or St. Dymphna that became a saint because of her pagan father. God picks who He will and we must never assume it is hopeless. It takes much prayer, never ceasing to always know God’s will and to always strive for it no matter the cost. Families today are getting hit from every side. Much grace is needed to keep a family together today. Take St. Michael as your advocate.

Unfortunately accosting our spouses and nagging them is NOT going to improve our marriage. Nor is it going to make your new faith attractive to them. Not saying anything is not going to help either.

While our “standard” has now been raised, that doesn’t mean “they” have changed. To expect such changes is well, impossible. Think of how long God knocked you on the head before you found YOUR faith!

Ask me how I know…

My dear husband put up with me over the years as I re-found my faith and he struggled along in the dark. Spouses can sometimes have significant problems understanding God. It’s not always all drama and emotion (well, okay sometimes it is). Just because we understand God doesn’t mean they do, it takes time. God’s time.

If your looking for ways for your husband to lead the rosary, it’s going to take some unique work to make that happen. The first thing is to recognize that you are the vessel that God works through, therefore you must decrease so He will increase. We do that best by less talking and more prayer. You will not win your spouse with nagging but with your example. And your example is the best way to convert them. It is God doing the converting remember NOT you.

All that ranting and raving comes from our inability to control them. We want them on board with the program NOW. We have to learn to LET GO and let God change their hearts while we sacrifice and be the BEST WIFE we can be for them.

It might take years. It might take all the years of your marriage. We have to be willing to go the long haul, to fight the good fight. Make the faith so attractive for our spouses so that they just fall into it. Take it from one that knows, after 29 years, my husband is finally saying the rosary. It often  takes enough crosses suffered together to make them realize the rosary is really the only answer.

I’m praying for yours,

With love,

Rita Xo 🙂

©Copyright 2014 Rita Davidson  All Rights Reserved.

IMG_0905Rita is a Catholic wife, and mother of seven, with three autistic boys. Currently a writer, & published author, she is a former hairdresser, professional make up artist with a degree in Natural Health. She is now a Young Living Distributor. After overcoming a stroke, disabilities, and more, they recently lost everything in a devastating house fire that made them homeless for six months. She is determined to lead souls back to Christ by carrying their crosses with Joy!

 

Comments

5 responses to “HUSBANDS Who DON’T PRAY (or wives)”

  1. Amy Frank Avatar

    I find it interesting that you posted this today. Last night I prayed my husband was praying the rosary. I told him I prayed last night he was praying rosary and then mentioned how strange that dream was since he never prays the rosary. It is nice to have a head praying the rosary. At one of the churches I used to belong to the Priest lead rosary. It would be nice if God would lead my husband to do this too.

  2. giarose Avatar
    giarose

    so beautifully written and so timely in my life. I am trying my best to decrease but still having trouble letting go, worrying that we’re not praying enough as a family while I step back and quietly build up my husband to be the spiritual head of the family. children pick up easily on subtle words and attitudes. neither of us are quite comfortable with it yet but perseverance in my own personal prayer life is key. however, at times my example is met with more scorn than actual words 🙁

    1. Rita Davidson Avatar
      Rita Davidson

      Have heart giarose!
      It can be so discouraging at times, I know. Pray for God to give you courage for your faith, and ignore the scorns you get. If “You’ are on the right path, then God will guide you right and be on your side too. I only know this from experience, having met scorn, ridicule and ostrasizing from those I love the most. It is a path riddled with obstacles, but gleaming with gold too.
      With love,
      Rita Xo 🙂
      Author : Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue (2001) and more…!

  3. Dina Avatar
    Dina

    Rita
    Thank you so much. As usual your post is full of wisdom and compassion 🙂

    1. Rita Davidson Avatar
      Rita Davidson

      Awww thank you Dina! I so wanted to answer this on FB, but couldn’t ‘tag’ you so figured I’d put this on the blog so you can see it and everyone else too!
      I so hope this was helpful? If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! I LOVE answering questions!! 🙂
      God bless,
      With love,
      Rita Xo
      Author: Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue (2001) and more… !

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