You know how sometimes you stay at a hotel with a really great view on one side and a parking lot on the other or some random building?....(not the sought after view unless you love watching the seagulls in the parking lots scavenging for scraps...I am sure there are always exceptions :)...this past weekend we stayed at the Grand Hotel for a marriage retreat....there are wonderful views of the lake and Mackinac Bridge from some rooms in the hotel and those are the rooms you hope you get and you anticipate swinging open your curtains and saying, "AHHHHH!" when your senses are greeted with the great expanse. :P I have to say senses PLURAL because it is at least sight, sound, smell, and feeling that bring you to the WOW of the sensational moment, right?
We were privileged to hear some great words of wisdom throughout our sessions this weekend. A couple things stuck out to me as takeaways. One of the concepts was that of being ONE in our marriage. I know this in my mind, but it is so easy to get away from it when there are issues or disagreements. Brad and I are in the trying season of parenting and we tend to have different parenting styles and ways of addressing the subject of disciplining and correcting our children. That can cause me to go into a mode of thinking where I focus on his way verses my way and not on OUR way and, more importantly, not on looking to GOD for the right way. That is just one example, but there are really so many other complexities in marriage in which it is important to be ONE and not fight against one another with our attitudes and actions.
The other statement that I loved because it cut at my heart....writers like bleeding hearts, you know...those ouch moments. It was repeated a few times today....that was good because that way I will remember it....it was, "Jesus was right, but He was wronged, and yet he initiated reconciliation." That kind-of reminds me of one of Mother Teresa's famous quotes...the "do it anyway" statements. I think what both the statement we heard today and what Mother Teresa described is the concept of GRACE. Grace is an incredible bridge and one which we can keep building if we seek God's HELP to fill us with it so that we can offer it to others despite our circumstances or feelings....especially our spouse and our children.
Mother Teresa's Statements
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
CREATE ANYWAY.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God....It was never between you and them anyway."
You won't always get the room with the great view, but you can have this viewpoint!
....and you can toss the seagulls some french fries because they are pretty fun to watch :P
