There is so much I could say about this topic-praying for my spouse, trying to chart, learning how to be a homemaker, discovering what I do or don't think is important in a marriage and family however the other ladies are doing such a great job talking about it that I will write about the first thoughts that came to mind. Two ways that I prepare for my future vocation, which right now, through discernment, I am on the path towards marriage.
1. Prayer
2. My body
One. Not only must I pray for my future vocation, my future husband, and our family now but I also must have a prayer life. If I don't say my daily rosary now what makes me think I will when I have a husband, kids, and house to run. If I don't have a deep romantic all consuming relationship with the Lord while I am young and single then I can bet I probably wont be having one when I am married. I prepare for my future vocation by striving to have a rich prayer life and a real relationship with the Lord.
Two. This may come off with a little bit of controversy but I prepare for my future vocation by preparing my body. In the same thought process as above, if I don't eat right and exercise now what makes me think I will when I am a wife and mother. However, greater than that I prepare my body for my husband and God-willing our children. The sexual act is good and holy when done between husband and wife and is unitive and procreative. Men and women were created to enjoy it. I want to be fit and healthy for my husband because I know he is going to like my body and I want to like it too. Frankly, I want to have a hot bod for my husband not because I think that will buy me love or that is all I will ever be loved for, but because I recognize that men are created as physical visual humans and I want to respond to that as I can. But don't fret, I know my husband will love me no matter what size, shape, or number I am on the scale because he will love me because of who I am as a woman striving to get to heaven. Besides my husband, God-willing, hopefully I spend many months pregnant and nursing and I want my body to be in tip top shape to nurture these little lives. If I dream of one day having a natural birth I need to push through (pun not intended) running a 5k.
I love reading all your ladies posts and I want to hear your thoughts so please comment.
Also of interest, I did a post yesterday about my attire for the bajillion weddings I have to go to this summer so go check that out!
Interesting thoughts... it's true, the habits we make now will continue once we are married and have families. So, if prayer and living a healthy lifestyle are important for you, then yes... you should work on them now. B/c if we think that all the things we want will miraculously happen once we say "I do", we will be sorely disappointed. So, this is great! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Natalie! Yes, prayer is one of the most important things we should do, no matter our state in life. And I whole-heartedly join you in the "preparing my body" school of thought! I always think that if you can avoid certain hard things about marriage/mothering by acting now, you should! Establishing healthy patterns now will help us carry them forward with our families—not to mention being able to create and carry and nurture new life! :)
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I am so there with you. You have to develop and nurture your prayer life now while it is yours to make a priority because when you have a husband and kids it is going to be harder to find the time and the motivation.
ReplyDeleteI know I need to work more on preparing my body since I HATE exercise, I will eat vegetables but I also have an amazing sweet tooth that I love to indulge. It's bad because I currently eat what I want without gaining weight but it will not always be that way so I should develop some type of discipline now for health reasons also. Plus I don't want to tell my kids do as I say and not as I do.
Ah, habit making. Definitely something I need to work on. I actually think that my prayer life will be better with my future husband and kids. I'll want to be a role model and share my faith with my children, and my husband and I will be encouraging each other and making sure we are doing the best that we can for God!
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