Last week marked the beginning of another Lenten season for Christians everywhere. First came the pre-Lent tradition of self-indulgence that is often called Fat Tuesday, followed by a more solemn Ash Wednesday that begins the 40 days of fasting that traditionally mark the occasion.
On Friday, as our town officially crossed the 60-inch mark for seasonal snowfall, my wife and I braved the elements to celebrate what has become an annual tradition at our house, the first fish fry of Lent at my wife’s church.
You can probably tell from the wording in the previous paragraph that we have something of a mixed marriage - my wife is Catholic, I am not. While my mother-in-law was skeptical of the arrangement at first, we soon convinced her that our differences in spiritual preference were not that big a deal. That’s not always the case, however.
I worked on a family history project a few years back where religion practically drove a long-married couple apart. It happened when both partners were well into middle age when the husband became “born again.” The wife, who did not share her husband’s new-found religious enthusiasm, never really forgave him but they did stay together until her death.
The schism in their relationship was painfully obvious to their children, however, and added a bitter twist to an otherwise loving relationship.
A person’s spirituality plays a major role in any relationship, whether positive or not. Some families discuss it openly, others do not. In any case, it’s a subject worth exploring as you work on your own family history project.
Writing prompt for the day: Do you know the religious preferences for the members of your own family tree?
On Friday, as our town officially crossed the 60-inch mark for seasonal snowfall, my wife and I braved the elements to celebrate what has become an annual tradition at our house, the first fish fry of Lent at my wife’s church.
You can probably tell from the wording in the previous paragraph that we have something of a mixed marriage - my wife is Catholic, I am not. While my mother-in-law was skeptical of the arrangement at first, we soon convinced her that our differences in spiritual preference were not that big a deal. That’s not always the case, however.
I worked on a family history project a few years back where religion practically drove a long-married couple apart. It happened when both partners were well into middle age when the husband became “born again.” The wife, who did not share her husband’s new-found religious enthusiasm, never really forgave him but they did stay together until her death.
The schism in their relationship was painfully obvious to their children, however, and added a bitter twist to an otherwise loving relationship.
A person’s spirituality plays a major role in any relationship, whether positive or not. Some families discuss it openly, others do not. In any case, it’s a subject worth exploring as you work on your own family history project.
Writing prompt for the day: Do you know the religious preferences for the members of your own family tree?
Larry Lehmer is a professional personal historian and legacy planner who helps people preserve their family histories. To learn more, visit his web site, send him an e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
Flickr photo courtesy of Loimere.
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