Good morning. In this morning’s Gospel from the Book of Luke we read where Jesus’ own neighbors and so-called friends want to take Him out and toss Him over a cliff. They didn’t want to hear what He had to say and they did not accept His interpretation of His reading from Isaiah. His friends and relatives couldn’t handle the truth. It probably would have been best to leave well enough alone. Sometimes less said is better. This sometimes crops up with our own friends, family and neighbors. Sometimes, in the words of Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, in A Few Good Men, friends and relatives “can’t handle the truth.” This knowing what to say is something as married couples we sometimes run into with friends and relatives. How to effectively respond to the inquiries of others regarding matters involving one’s spouse or family can sometimes be a tricky matter, which is why developing and maintaining healthy boundaries is important toward having a happy marriage. Friends and extended family are a treasure in any marriage, they often add to the marriage and meet various needs that our spouse may not be able to meet, yet it is important to be sensitive to the comfort and good of our partner in knowing the limits of those relationships. It is important to know and adhere to the boundaries of the marriage and be sensitive to what areas of the marriage are comfortable for including friends or neighbors to be part of. If something said to either a family member or friend would be embarrassing or hurtful if said in the presence of our spouse, it probably shouldn’t be said. Yes, friends and family are important and beneficial for a good marriage, but the marriage should be the home base for our feelings. A loving spouse measures their involvement outside the relationship by what is good for the marriage. Make a good day!
Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Pope Saint Sixtus III.
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