Hey! Hey friends, this Friday afternoon Chile will play Australia... Only once every 4 years can we watch the biggest Sports match on the Planet, definitely not to be missed.

I hurriedly arranged my work at work to prepare for this hobby of Football, when suddenly I heard my wife complaining: "Honey, today I have to go to the "Life Renewal" course, remember? "Is that so?" I replied sadly with a feeling of regret. I lazily changed my clothes and prepared the car, but my mind kept thinking, "My husband and I are not "Renovation" at all. As for my wife, she called her friend's family to ask for "childcare" for my 3 young children, as she had asked before.

The drive is nearly an hour long. We arrived at 5 pm the same day. The location is a parish hall of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Westminster city, Orange county CA.

It was truly thrilling when I entered the Hall, the scene was bustling with the organizers running back and forth taking care of their work, arranging tables and chairs, drafting the program, and a "background" backdrop for taking photos in the distance. being hung up by the guys, the most solemn is still the image of the statue of mother MARIA leaning down, as if happily with her beloved children gathered around today, then the lights and decorative flowers... everyone can't stop. Very proficient with rhythmic tasks. My husband and I were welcomed right at the door with a smile and a cordial handshake from the Reception team. I was introduced and received a small book and a white "Candle" with my name and my wife's name written on it along with a small wedding date below. At this moment, I was deeply impressed by the thoughtfulness of the arrangements by the organizers.

The participants were seated in 3 pairs at a round table, very formal and cozy. After introducing themselves and getting to know each other, the organizers began to briefly present what the 3-day "Marriage Renewal Workshop" was like. and I have slowly changed my prejudices.

The next day, Saturday, on the drive there, I no longer felt regretful about the exciting football matches but was curious about the developments of the next "Renovation" days that my husband and I were participating in. So we were so busy talking that we didn't notice.

It's hard to forget my wife! I whispered in my wife's ear when my brothers and sisters stood up to share with us the very sweet but extremely bitter parts of their lives, close in everyday life but difficult to find a way out, if we really There is no more or less learning from these 3 useful days of "Renewal". A small "pocket" play but unexpectedly contains many meanings, expressed by the organizers themselves in a family of two husbands and two children, daily life, husband working, children going to school and the wife busy with cooking and cleaning after a long day at work, it shows the realities of small frustrations after a long day. The husband hugs the TV or Computer with his two children and their games, phones... leaving the mother and wife languishing in the kitchen, tired and lonely. Although the story is not a big deal, it causes discord that can sometimes be hidden for a long time and unforeseen unfortunate events can happen. It's very ordinary but accurately represents the activities of many families, my family is no exception.

How lovely was a couple with 5 children, they had to work hard for six or seven hours to drive from Arizona. Their simplicity made us remember a lot, with their steadfast sharing and their voice. the wife's gentle words, sharing the "glories and ups and downs" of life that they have been experiencing, and now they are experiencing with everyone.

Another moment that made everyone sink with humiliation and almost despair as the couple shared their grief and pain (despite the material aspects and fame they had) when they received bad news. Their first beloved child, whom they cherished in anticipation every day, was still in the womb and had a serious illness, for which the child had to suffer for his future fate. The couple seemed to die. The entire hall seemed to hold everyone's hearts aching with their heartwarming words of sharing with the two brothers and sisters. The sobs and tears of the mothers listening as well as my husband and I and the grieving mother sharing... Then there are the sacrifices and sufferings of the wives and husbands they have made and facing challenges today and the days to come... really, what should I do? I thought to myself that if the incident happened, would we still calmly handle it like they did? Then where to cling? Or are you giving up or being callous? I sat there silently praying for them and asking myself questions and pondering persistent deadlocks until the conclusion of learning and adding practical prayers from the Chaplain who accompanied me that day. That day, God's love covers and illuminates, infinitely Holy. Our souls calmed down with a moment of thinking about our lives, the past months of "competing" and "selfishness" of ourselves and wasting "spirituality" with the daily life that we and our husbands lived. I'm pursuing.

The lunch was full and fun, everyone felt closer to each other, each couple was divided evenly on the long table while eating, drinking and chatting, exchanging witty stories about everyday life, happy and sad. seemingly never ends. Thank you to the silent and important volunteers who have given us so much care over the past three days with their thoughtful culinary work.

The chilly winds signaled that the sky was turning towards dusk outside, and with the rhythm of the quiet and sacred air, I suddenly felt strangely warm. I looked up at the statue of Mother Maria, and affectionately looked down at the row of candles of couples arranged by the organizers in a heart shape at her feet. which all our couples received and promised on the first day in front of the Holy Table of the Church.

Suddenly, the couple smiled when they saw four of us looking in one direction. Holding her hand I whispered: "I love you". My wife's eyes widened, so surprised that she wanted to cry. "Sixteen years" since the day we held hands and made a promise before God, I have never been able to say this completely sincere sentence again, even though my husband and I are very worried about each other, for the sake of "food". shirt", because of enjoying personal passions, because of being busy taking care of children and many other reasons.

The "Handprint in the Sand" ritual in the evening of the same day is gentle and memorable. A square sand tray and flickering candlelight give the couple more separate space

more natural and honest for each other. In that silence, I drew a heart shape with an arrow piercing it, drops of blood leaking out, meaning that the past months of living together as husband and wife, how many times had caused her bitterness and bitterness, I really made her heart bleed. Gently, my wife slowly erased the sharp arrow and drew on half of the heart attached "Dear God, please keep us".

On Sunday, the closing day came, a solemn Mass was celebrated by the Priest Chaplain, who followed and spiritually guided for three days with our couples, under a row of heart-shaped candles with flickering firelight. The spirit of Mother Mary's eyes are still gentle as if giving love and protection even though it's raining, windy or rocky outside, she is still here to protect and be a fulcrum for when her child goes astray and goes down the wrong path if he can find his way back. with mom.

Each couple held hands and were promised again in front of the Holy Table. The promise was the same as the beginning when the dreamy couple held hands with two families: Parents and relatives, when they were once in love. each other in poetic and romantic love with the words "It doesn't mean anything. One afternoon, it kills my soul with the pale sunlight and the gentle clouds and gentle breeze...". But now, after many years of love between husband and wife, there are no more dreams or poetic thoughts left in the past, but we hold hands and promise each other through mature and sincere experience with each other under the guidance of God. God.

With simple and sincere words, dear brothers and sisters, my peers.

Maybe you guys have higher thoughts and qualities than our husband and I, but what no one dares to boast about is that there are many difficulties in married life, especially today when temptations and fame and fortune are always present. beside. I, a boy wandering in foreign lands since the early 80s. When I was in high school, lonely and lost without relatives, experiencing a life of injustice and poverty, many times I was the prodigal son in front of my eyes. God, graduated from school and got married like many other boys, has 3 grandchildren, works day in and day out, fulfills his duty to earn money to support his wife and children, thinking that his responsibility is over, but today Now participating in the course "Renovating Married Life", I have seen more or less the gaps in marriage and family that in the past were thought to be only natural. Dear brothers and sisters, each family and each activity may be different, but in general they all aim for happiness. Maybe you guys will be wiser and receive better than we and my husband in other aspects, but at some point I am certain that the past 3 days of "Renewal" have brought and nurtured more or less the family home. our family in the future and closer to God.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organizers, not forgetting the couple who guided and introduced us to this useful course. Thank you for your unselfish sacrifices and contributions, and for the hard work that the organizing committee tries to create opportunities and heal for couples to understand each other better, be more open and love each other, and the brothers and sisters in the organizing committee. The ministry is performed only for the purpose of pleasing God.

Admiring and praying, asking God and Mother Mary to give grace and reward to those Brothers and Sisters who have sacrificed their morality to serve others.

Participant of the “25” Marriage Life Renewal course