Listen to the REV

About a month ago I bought a book by RevRun (think Run DMC and Run's House on MTV)called "Take Back Your Family". Now I have to brag for just a second and let ya'll know that I got to meet The Rev and he signed my book -wooooo! And I really do love this book! He and his wife, Justine, co-wrote this book about mariage and their kids. The first chapter of their book is entitled "Making Your Marriage Work First". And THAT is what I want to focus on today!

Now I know I dont have kids, but I do have a marriage. And I think what The Rev is saying is vital! Basically his chapter states that if we don't put our relationship with our spouse first, and work together as a team you are going to fall apart. He says it MUCH better than that though! Your relationship with your spouse has a profound effect on your kids!

Let me say that again - YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPOUSE HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON YOUR KIDS! Good or bad, it does. How you talk to each other, treat each other, what you say ABOUT the other, etc. It all effects your kids. Right now I am dealing with my parent's divorce. It is the absolute hardest thing I have ever gone through in my entire life - and I'm an adult!! I don't live with them, or depend on either of them for my house or food. I can't imagine having to go through this as a child and having absolutley no control. My life has been turned upside down, everything I thought I knew has changed, my views on marriage have even changed. I really do thank God everyday that I am already married to Jay or I really don't know that it would be in my future.

My parent's relationship has completely changed my life. And I am old enough to know it's not my fault, and I don't have to listen to fighting, and I don't have to choose who I am going to love, and I don't have to live in 2 different places, or have a "new Mommy" or "new Daddy", or get a new set of siblings, or change schools, or any other number of things that kids have to go through when their parent's relationships fall apart. I also know how to identify my feelings and realize that it is okay to be completely pissed off at my Dad and never want to speak to him agian today, and then spend tomorrow crying because I miss him and want my Dad soooo bad. But kids - they don't know that!

OK, so now that my little rant is over......Put your marriage first, make the effort, take the time to really let your spouse know you love them. Even if you don't like them today! LOL Your kids will benfit from it, and thank you for it one day.