St. Anthony Messenger September 2021

Page 20

18 • September 2021 | StAnthonyMessenger.org

Falling in love is easy; staying in love takes work. Here are five practices to strengthen the bonds of marriage. By Shannon K. Evans

our marriages, and we should never resolve to settle for less than God’s deepest desire for us. Most couples benefit from marriage counseling at some point in their lives, no matter how healthy they believe their relationships to be. But aside from the important step of seeking professional guidance, there are plenty of smaller ways we can address the challenges in married life and see our homes transformed into a place where both spouses can not only survive, but truly thrive.

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arriage can be the most gratifying relationship in our lives—but it can also be the most challenging. Even well-matched and committed couples experience real hardship during the course of their lives: Circumstances become overwhelming, partnerships can be exhausting, and raising children elevates the stress felt by everyone. Without reliable tools in your marital toolbox, it’s all too easy to feel resentful of and distant from the very person to whom you pledged your life. But resentment and distance do not reflect the heart of God for

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