Move forward
Day: May 3, 2020
Cue 70 – 68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice
“You really don’t want to be famous. Read the biography of any famous person.” – Kevin Kelly
Communication, Sex and Finance
That is what marriage boils down to. You can call it the tripod of marital bliss.
Marriage is actually the safest school to learn how to communicate. How to listen and how to share your thoughts. When communication breaks down, sex and finances cannot stand for much longer.
In fact, the reason children have been said to be an important part of marriage is that they help to improve communication. You cannot afford to be a bad example of communication in front of your children, because they reflect pretty quickly, everything you show them. So if you communicate with respect, they learn same, pretty quickly.
Sex is also important. No matter how well you communicate, if your marriage lacks sex, you’re just deceiving each other. You have learnt the art of communication, yet derive no value from it. Quality of sex must follow quality of communication. If they are going in opposite directions, someone is being insincere.
Many assume that a signal to a healthy sex life in a couple is in the birthing of children, no, nothing is farther from the truth. The signal for a healthy sex life is in the quality of communication between couples.
Finance reduces the friction that might come from 3rd parties in your relationship. If you depend on each other and can live independent of each other, you are interdependent. And interdependence is bliss. Interdependence is the most powerful shield against 3rd parties. Kahlil Gibran put it succinctly when he said “Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.”
– Osasu Oviawe
A reality check
1 Peter 2:20-25
For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Homily:
This is another way of teaching us that we do not serve a transactional God – Do this and get that. No.
You do not do good because good is promised as a reward. You do good because that is what God commands. You do good as an act of obedience. You do good to maintain a good relationship with God.
Sometimes, doing good comes with its own good. Sometimes doing good comes with nothing. Sometimes, doing good comes with pain. But you do the good you have been commanded to do, because obedience to God is our main duty. Whatever comes after, is dictated by His long term view.