THE MARRIED LIFE Jesus came into the world in the silence of the night. And it is often in the silence that he speaks to us. Many years ago, my brother Matt was searching for the truth. He had gone through several troublesome years, giving my mother cause for tears and prayers, like those of […]
Mary Duddy: Be thankful for your spouse
THE MARRIED LIFE “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34) Recently I was sitting in a chair at Kailua Beach and I noticed several people with dogs. Lots of dogs. Some dogs were running; some dogs were catching balls their owners threw into the water. Some […]
Mary Duddy: Be an encourager
THE MARRIED LIFE “Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters; not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God […]
Mary Duddy: Family life and river rafting
THE MARRIED LIFE Marriage and family life is not like a scenic cruise going down a river, where you are a spectator enjoying the view. No, it’s more like a white-water rafting trip, where rapids come and go, you need to paddle hard, and you could easily fall out of the boat. At the beginning […]
Mary Duddy: For the love of God and neighbor
THE MARRIED LIFE Tom and I were at the Prince Waikiki hotel for a weekend away. As I looked out the window at the beautiful view of the harbor and the blue Pacific Ocean, I was praying and read the Scripture passage about the woman anointing the feet of Jesus. This act of love on […]
Mary Duddy: Small things matter
THE MARRIED LIFE Sometimes it’s the small things in life that mean the most. A smile. A kind word. Conversely, a harsh word can cause tears or bitterness. Good humor makes us laugh. Negative humor has a sting that hurts. Loving in small ways requires thought and grace. It is attentive and caring. It speaks […]
Mary Duddy: Mission in life
THE MARRIED LIFE My mother used to say that each of us has a mission in life, and that mission is not complete until our life on earth ends. A big part of her mission was to be a wife and mother. Even when she was older and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, she was still […]
Mary Duddy: A time to share family traditions
THE MARRIED LIFE As we get further into the fall and as seasons of Advent and Christmas approach, we will have lots of opportunities to celebrate. Family traditions, such as “trick or treating,” Thanksgiving, and Christmas gatherings provide special opportunities to join with extended family and friends. Big or small, let’s make the most of […]
Mary Duddy: Family ties
THE MARRIED LIFE A marriage is not created in a vacuum. Individuals grow up in a family; families are part of a larger community; and in a Christian marriage, Christ is at the center of it all. In today’s society, however, Christian marriage and family life are under attack. We can all see signs of […]
Mary Duddy: In sickness and in health
THE MARRIED LIFE Tom had surgery on his shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff. Two weeks later I had surgery on my shin to remove a melanoma. Tom wore a sling on his arm, and I had a bandage on my leg. People at church joked, “What did you do to each other?!” Two […]