I’ve asked guest blogger Dan Kenney to share his thoughts on our “Theology Lived” question this week: “How do you lead your spouse to heaven?” – Dan shares a beautiful reflection on the example his grandparents set and that he is seeking for his own marriage.

To read the original post and respond to the question with your own thoughts please go here “Theology Lived: How do you lead your spouse to heaven?”

by Dan Kenney

When I was a little boy, nights at my Grandparents’ farm always started out kind of rough.  My tiny bed was shoved against the window, and as I lay there trying to fall asleep, I would stare out the window at the half dead tree, listen to the creaky windmill, and scare myself awake.

Inevitably though, at some point, I would be saved by a familiar sound.

My Grandparents’ room was right below where my brothers and I would sleep, and every night, without fail, Pat and Bly McGill would hit their knees and pray the rosary.  The sound of their prayer calmed me down and helped me drift to sleep.

Whether it was going to sleep, waking up, or driving to the American legion baseball game in town, the constant in my grandparents’ marriage was prayer. 

Years later, as my grandpa lay in a small town hospital close to death, it was prayer that once again calmed me down.  But this time it was the prayer of my Grandma Bly together with that of her 11 children and 64 grandchildren.  Together we sang Irish songs and prayed over the bed of this dear sweet man.  It was the most beautiful moment of my life.

The man who farmed all his life but never owned a piece of ground.  The man who, based on the world’s balance sheets was an abject failure.  This Pat McGill left the world guided by the prayer of 75 souls that he had brought into this world with the help of that special lady who stroked his hair and kissed his forehead until his final breath. 

Pat and Bly McGill didn’t cure diseases.  Didn’t run countries.  Didn’t create mind bending products.  Didn’t do lots of today’s Great Things.

No, Pat and Bly McGill raised children and…..prayed.

Pretty simple, huh?

And boy do I complicate things.

I have at one time or another made marriage about satisfying my romantic fantasies, finding myself, changing my wife, not changing myself, continuing to be selfish, acting like a child, being undisciplined with money, having a fancy house, making tons of money, becoming famous, having people like me.  You get the point.

I know that my Grandparents weren’t perfect but by the time I got to know them, it was pretty clear that Pat and Bly made marriage about one thing; getting each other to heaven.

So they prayed….a lot.

Thankfully, I have a wife who knows how to stand by her man and pray for her husband.  And after lots of prayers and a few difficult years, she and I are finally on the same page.

And guess what?  She doesn’t need me to be famous at something.  She also doesn’t need a brand new designer house.  In fact, she doesn’t need nor want a lot of the things that I’ve been wasting time trying to get.

She has made it clear that what she really wants is a Husband who is a good man.  One who prays with her and helps her to get to Heaven.

Now, at nights, my wife and I pray the rosary from our living room as our six little children sleep nearby.  I hope they hear us and I hope the familiar sound of their parents praying comforts them at night when they are scared.

I’m no longer a little boy….but I still get scared.  And I mostly get scared of dying.  Sometimes late at night, when I wonder about what’s really waiting for me on the other side….I feel two comforts. 

The one is my wife, next to me in bed.  I know she will fight and scrape and claw and do anything she can to help me get to Heaven.

The other comfort is the faint sound I can just faintly hear.  No longer coming from downstairs.  This familiar sound now comes from above.  It is the sound of my Grandparents, still praying.  They may have gotten each other into Heaven….but there’s still me and a bunch of souls left.  

And that wonderful thought helps me drift off to sleep.

——————————————————————

Dan Kenney and his wife Teresa raise their six children in Omaha, Nebraska.  Dan has a Masters in Theology, years of experience teaching Scripture and Theology and currently writes articles for his blog at http://dankenney.wordpress.com.  Dan and Teresa are trying to get each other into Heaven. 

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. The Lord Hears Your Cry Recently I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness. All...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.