Catholic Wives and The Choice To Love
So, I recorded another podcast, all by my lonesome.
The topic this week is that “Love is a Choice”. And I spend much of the episode detailing a few of my many failings as a wife. Including my most recent failure to be charitable to my husband while he suffered through a terrible stomach bug.
And because I feel like this is one of the most important topics for us married women to think about, I’d love for you to listen in.
Since the whole podcast is about love is a choice–and how love is an action–I couldn’t just record a podcast.
I just had to do something else, I just had to create something else for my community! I had to create some way to help Catholic Wives that struggle to choose love in every little moment. (And I am at the top of this list)
So I made a printable.
Because printables are a blogger’s pathetic way of contributing to the world.
But I really hope that this simple printable will help remind you of the simple, common, small ways that we can choose love.
I need as many reminders as anyone to love my husband–and more to the point–to SHOW my husband that I love him.
Each idea on this list is small and easy. Things that we can easily accomplish while juggling all we currently have on our plate. Take a look:
See?
Nothing on there is too hard. But just imagine how different things would be if we were able to do these things for our husbands each and every day?
In my marriage, it would be an incredible thing if I could simply find a reason to laugh with my husband every day.
He is always telling me amusing stories from work (that I only half understand). And most of the time I give him a half-grin (or on my bad days, I roll my eyes), and get on with what I was doing.
But, when I actually stop and focus on him. And find what is funny in his story, and actually laugh, well those turn out to be really good nights.
So, download the sheet, look it over and use it. The PDF is totally free and ready to print. I even created it in lots of different sizes because I plan to keep one in my purse, above my desk, and besides my bed. Because I need LOTS of reminding.
DOWNLOAD THE DAILY MARRIAGE LOVE CHECKLIST HERE.
Once again, thank you, thank you for all of your support, and thank you for just being here.
We do small things, but through those small things…greatness.
Your sister,
Nancy
I want to thank you so much for this episode. This is something that had come to.mind about love and marriage, but now I’ve heard your podcast set, wow, I just can stop thinking about how it is absolutely a choice. It’s definitely made me reexamine interactions with my husband and my feelings towards him. That I need to continue to see my love and marriage as a choice that I continue to choose. Honestly, I cannot thank you enough! I love your podcast so much and I get so much from each episode xx
Oh, I am so touched. God certainly chooses to work through his lowest servants (and most imperfect).
Nancy
***Christian*** not Chrisian!!
Hi Nancy,
I’m enjoying being on this journey with you, knowing that I will be getting Catholic content. I can just enjoy listening to you and not think ‘is that what the Curch teaches?’. I thought I’d put in a plug for my husband’s uncle’s book ‘Embracing Chrisian Sex in a Pagan World’ by Fr. Joseph Sirba. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it before, but it is good and to the point. My hubby’s other uncle is a bishop, so the book comes with those recomendations as well!!!
Blessings!
Thanks! Always looking for books on this topic! THanks!
Nancy, thank you so much for your amazing podcast! You insights are so relevant to me as a Catholic wife and mom. I listen when I’m doing chores and I find myself repeatedly stopping to laugh, think and nod my head emphatically as you relate your experiences, which just about echo mine to a T. It’s almost as enjoyable as coffee with my bestie 🙂 Most of all, you’ve begun to open my eyes to the fact that we all have something to learn AND to teach.
Your sister in the struggle,
Mari
Oh my–this might be my favorite comment EVER! I’m tearing up! We do all really have something to share, and if you ever want to share yours on the podcast, just let me know!!
NAncy
Thank you! I have been receiving your emails for some time now, but this is the first time I sat down and listened to your blog. Wow! I needed this exact topic for than anything right now! After 16 years of marriage, 3 of which have now been sacramental since my husband joined the church (and 4 beautiful daughters later), we are struggling on so many levels and are facing some incredibly difficult choices, a possible separation being the biggest. I have been living with one foot out the door, ready to say I can’t anymore, I can’t keep hurting, I can’t keep fighting, I can’t keep doubting, I can’t keep loving. But tonight, I genuinely feel I can say I can, I can choose to love again. I have hope and faith again. I truly believe that God answered my prayers through your blog. I choose my husband and my marriage and my family and my Father in Heaven. Thank you and God bless you!
Oh my. God is so very good in that he sees fit to use his smallest servants. I will be happy to pray for you and your husband. Marriage is so hard, and so good, and so hard again. Blessings, sister!
I was in a similar situation many years ago and my priest asked me to give my husband the first chance when my heart was ready to be loved again. Thankfully my husband was willing to wait and fight for me. Prayers to you and your marriage, hang in there.
how beautiful.
Hi Nancy,
I just listened to your podcast and I really loved the idea of creating communities of women in a similar stage of marriage. I’m in. Also, my husband is a faithful Catholic psychologist. If you ever want a psychological perspective that is well informed and Catholic to incorporate somehow feel free to shoot me an email. (I’ll put you in touch with him. I know many fancy psychology words but not really how to apply them. 🙂 )
Thanks for your work on this blog!
God bless,
Liz
Whoa, a Catholic Psychologist? I didn’t know any of those existed! I will totally be in touch.
And yes, I crave that too! A group of ladies all at the same stage in marriage as me, that are all Catholic and striving to live marriage as a sacrament. Blessings!
Oh gosh, thank you! This could not have come at a better time! Today I was having one of those days, you know the kids are sick, whiny, clingy and I’m all hormonal being in the middle of pregnancy so I’m not handling it well and by time my hubby got home, I was done. I just wanted to veg, have some quiet minutes to hopefully regroup so I could try again, but nope, didn’t happen. Hubby had his own plane for what needed to happen once he was home. Long story short, even though I did try half heartedly to ask him for a break, when he didn’t immediately drop what he was doing, I got even more sulky. The evening ended with me being excessively polite, but distant and I know he had no clue as to why since he has never aquired that magical skill of mind reading. So I lay awake, having my pity party, open my email and there you are, reminding me of my choice. I am married to a fantastic man! Did I mention he brought dinner home with him? I know when he is wrapped up in a project he doesn’t get easily distracted and I love how much he is able to accomplish. I know it’s that evil one spreading his lies and yet, I listened. Tomorrow I get to try again, praise God, but it probably would have been at least a sulky morning if I hadn’t had you to listen to tonight, so thank you again! I think I’m done rambling now… good night and God bless!
Oh goodness, God can really make beautiful things happen, can’t he. and I can’t tell you just how many times I have been “excessively polite” while passively aggressively hating my husband (who is always wonderful). Blessings on your pregnancy! It’s a tough road, but the only one worth walking.
Nancy