Afraid of NFP - using ABC for now

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Serap,

Reading your story reminds me of the movie Fireproof. Especially this song Love Is Not a Fight. My wife and I love this movie (not the acting) and think that it shares a very important message.

Forgive me for telling you about the movie if you have not seen it. I will not give it away (although the video may, I have not watched it all the way through) and if you do not want to know anything about it, feel free to skip to the next paragraph. In the movie, Caleb (Kirk Cameron) realizes that his marriage is headed for a divorce and he wants to try and save it, but he has to realize where the changes have to be made in order to make his marriage work. It is likened to what you are going through in a way.

In marriage, are we called to be giving to each other at a 50-50 rate? No! What happens when one party is giving only 49% or one is giving 51%? There could be resentment building there, problems will arise. So you may wonder, if not 50-50, then what 100-100? Again, no! What happens when one is not giving 100%? In marriage we are called to have a ratio of 100-0! Give all and expect nothing. It is likened back to the “elbow verse” in Ephesians 5. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands…always. Now when he is doing his part of that verse (loving his wife as Christ loved the Church) it is easier to be submissive. When he is not doing that it is harder, yet we are still called to 100-0. Husbands are the same, we are still called as men to die for the love of our spouse (not a literal death, per se), but to die to our selfish needs and desires to please our wives. It is true that when we are being this way to our wives, she is more willing to be submissive to us, but we should not expect that…100-0.

Reading what you posted earlier is promising and I believe that you are on the right track and your husband realizes it. Still need to be mindful of any type of abusive behavior. Also, ABC will continue to drive a wedge that you are trying to keep out of your marriage. The devil HATES marriage and he will find any little crack to sneak in and try to destroy a marriage. Once he gets that crack he grabs his crowbar and tries to make that crack into a gaping hole to destroy you and your spouse. A life long commitment to 100-0 is what is needed everyday.

A daily prayer for marriage:

*Heavenly Father,
through the intercession of the Holy Family,
Help us treasure the gift of marriage that
reflects the love of Christ for the Church,
where the self-giving love
of husband and wife
unites them more perfectly and
cooperates in your plan for
new life created in your image.

Help us support men and women
in their vocation of marriage,
especially in difficult times when
they join their sufferings to the Cross.

Help us uphold the instution of marriage
in our society as the place where
love is nurtured and family life begins.

Help us acknowledge that our future
depends on this love and on your
providential care for us. Amen *
 
Thanks for sharing Ut. It is nice to read from people that don’t have experiences with NFP that line up with all of the smiling, obnoxious CCL couples. NFP is all about sacrifice and suffering and I’m glad you reminded me of that.
Yes, this is so true. 20 straight days of abstinence for us so far this month…:eek:
 
I am humbled and completely overwhelmed by the love I am receiving on this thread. I masked my cry for help in the title without even realizing it.:blushing:

I spoke to counsellor today on the phone at Catholic Families. He told me that b/c my father abused me (even though I have dealt with it) and now that my husband is a father, I may subconsciously be resenting DH for the simple fact that he is now a father and my father abused me. He said that now some of my issues are arising again, but from a different perspective… I am now a mother with a husband. The dynamics in my life are completely different.

He also said that my husband is acting out in fear and he jumps from 0 to 60 from very little stressful stimuli. DH is also overly protective of DD b/c he was abused by his father and wants to be a good, loving father to her (which he is). The counsellor told me that I need to realize when I am becoming angry with DH to remove myself when I am beginning to feel it. He said that first I should check my breathing…is it faster than usual and then I should check my body…is it tense? If yes to both, I am angry and I need to walk away b/c my husband and I both have bad tempers. He said that before I leave, I should say something like, “I love you and I’m getting angry and I don’t want to say something that will upset you. I am going to leave for a little while, so we can both calm down and we don’t fight infront of the kids.”

I was also told to take a group session on Anger Management. He says that I need to better understand triggers of my repressed anger and what makes them surface. He will set-up one on one counselling with me once I have had a group session and can better understand the anger that I feel and how to better deal with it.

He also recommended two books: Seven Principles of Marriage & Hold me Tight. He recommended that if my husband won’t go to counselling that I at least show him these books.

I’m completely overwhelmed and confused by all of this. Where did this all come from all of a sudden??? Why am I seeing the light in a matter of days? I can’t help but think it was all of your prayers. :grouphug:
 
I am humbled and completely overwhelmed by the love I am receiving on this thread. I masked my cry for help in the title without even realizing it.:blushing:

I spoke to counsellor today on the phone at Catholic Families. He told me that b/c my father abused me (even though I have dealt with it) and now that my husband is a father, I may subconsciously be resenting DH for the simple fact that he is now a father and my father abused me. He said that now some of my issues are arising again, but from a different perspective… I am now a mother with a husband. The dynamics in my life are completely different.

He also said that my husband is acting out in fear and he jumps from 0 to 60 from very little stressful stimuli. DH is also overly protective of DD b/c he was abused by his father and wants to be a good, loving father to her (which he is). The counsellor told me that I need to realize when I am becoming angry with DH to remove myself when I am beginning to feel it. He said that first I should check my breathing…is it faster than usual and then I should check my body…is it tense? If yes to both, I am angry and I need to walk away b/c my husband and I both have bad tempers. He said that before I leave, I should say something like, “I love you and I’m getting angry and I don’t want to say something that will upset you. I am going to leave for a little while, so we can both calm down and we don’t fight infront of the kids.”

I was also told to take a group session on Anger Management. He says that I need to better understand triggers of my repressed anger and what makes them surface. He will set-up one on one counselling with me once I have had a group session and can better understand the anger that I feel and how to better deal with it.

He also recommended two books: Seven Principles of Marriage & Hold me Tight. He recommended that if my husband won’t go to counselling that I at least show him these books.

I’m completely overwhelmed and confused by all of this. Where did this all come from all of a sudden??? Why am I seeing the light in a matter of days? I can’t help but think it was all of your prayers. :grouphug:
  1. I love your counselor!
  2. You’re seeing things more clearly because you asked for prayers and opinions.
You sought help and you got it.
It’s supposed to work that way!
 
  1. I love your counselor!
  2. You’re seeing things more clearly because you asked for prayers and opinions.
You sought help and you got it.
It’s supposed to work that way!
and importantly, I am taking the blame for my actions. I’m not playing the victim and laying all of the fault onto my husband. I’m not in denial that I have a problem with anger.

I want to keep this thread alive so I can let you all know what’s going on and how I can improve over time.
 
and importantly, I am taking the blame for my actions. I’m not playing the victim and laying all of the fault onto my husband. I’m not in denial that I have a problem with anger.

I want to keep this thread alive so I can let you all know what’s going on and how I can improve over time.
Hi Serap…I wonder if you would have access to an NFP only doctor? Would you be able to learn Creighton? The Creighton method is very good

The reason I’m asking is now I’m learning Creighton, there is a corelation between hormones and moods. My baby is older, but my cycles and moods have been “weird”…

Do you notice that some days things don’t tick you off…but other days one thing will just overwhelm you?

You aren’t too far from the post partum stage…your doctor might be able to test your hormone levels…
 
and importantly, I am taking the blame for my actions. I’m not playing the victim and laying all of the fault onto my husband. I’m not in denial that I have a problem with anger.

I want to keep this thread alive so I can let you all know what’s going on and how I can improve over time.
Serap, now that you’ve told us that your father had big anger-problems, yes I’m sure you
have some unhealthy habits re anger in personal relationships. Great that you discovered that link and told your counslor. Both you and hubby learned “sick” habits in your childhoods. No time like the present to sort it all out. Might be terrific for everyone, esp you, to keep this thread alive. Your honesty is WONDERFUL!
 
Serap, now that you’ve told us that your father had big anger-problems, yes I’m sure you
have some unhealthy habits re anger in personal relationships. Great that you discovered that link and told your counslor. Both you and hubby learned “sick” habits in your childhoods. No time like the present to sort it all out. Might be terrific for everyone, esp you, to keep this thread alive. Your honesty is WONDERFUL!
It’s b/c you guys don’t know me 😛 I have not shared this with any close friends.
 
I am so happy you are taking steps to help make your marriage stronger and happier.

It can be a long road, but oh so worth it. I am so glad I didn’t throw in the towel, despite being told I “should” by some.

My marriage is stronger and better for having weathered the storm, and I hope yours will be also.
 
I just got my first cycle today. Now I can begin using NFP again.

I can’t help but think that God gave me my period, so I could have more faith in HIM again and in my marriage.

My husband and I continue to work on things. He is also making a lot of effort and it’s much easier now that I am learning to take a step back and not let the anger escalate so quickly between us.

Seven Principles to Make a Marriage Work is really amazing! It tells you when an argument is going nowhere and how to pull the breaks. I’m still reading it, but I’ve gotten a lot of great information so far.

I consecrated my marriage to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 4 days ago. I thought it was worth a try - after I was done, it was like, “Ok…not sure what I just did, but we’ll see.”
 
I just got my first cycle today. Now I can begin using NFP again.

I can’t help but think that God gave me my period, so I could have more faith in HIM again and in my marriage.

My husband and I continue to work on things. He is also making a lot of effort and it’s much easier now that I am learning to take a step back and not let the anger escalate so quickly between us.

Seven Principles to Make a Marriage Work is really amazing! It tells you when an argument is going nowhere and how to pull the breaks. I’m still reading it, but I’ve gotten a lot of great information so far.

I consecrated my marriage to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 4 days ago. I thought it was worth a try - after I was done, it was like, “Ok…not sure what I just did, but we’ll see.”
That’s good! (although I hate when AF comes to visit :p) but good that you know AF is back in town, it should be easier to moniter your fertility.

I still would suggest going to www.woomb.org or finding a creighton teacher.

I’ve used billings now I use Creighton…not hard…and I’ve actually learned both while breastfeeding…
 
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