Vacation and Intimacy
            QUESTION from Marie on June 19, 2004

For Rose, God never requires more of us than we can bear. If we are seeking His grace through prayer, we can bear anything. Certainly, it may be frustrating that one with serious reasons for avoiding a pregnancy becomes fertile while on the second honeymoon. But, what an opportunity to say to God - "You are our Lord and we thank you for the gift of fertility, that so many couples find themselves without." To be so frustrated about your second honeymoon plans, seems to insult those who, after years of chaste dating, were fertile on their wedding night and honeymoon, but gladly chose to respect the sacred power of intercourse and wait for an infertile time to consummate their marriage. (Due to serious reasons for not getting pregnant right away, of course). Or those holy husbands who graciously went many years without intercourse after being told their wives would die if they got pregnant again in the olden days. I know of several couples who waited on their own honeymoon and also several grandfatherly men who made this sacrifice for their wives, and waited until she reached menopause. What is one vacation compared to that? A second honeymoon may very well be a nice way to physically reconnect, but what would be the point if spouses reconnect in a manner that disconnects God from them? There might be physical satisfaction, but there will be no peace of heart. I cannot think that would be a very special second honeymoon. Marie