Today is my 10th wedding anniversary and I'm very thankful to God for my beautiful wife Mary.

Our Wedding at St. Mary of the Assumption in Lake Leelanau, Michigan

When I started thinking back to the many different milestones and adventures along the way, I couldn't believe it. It seemed impossible that everything happened in that amount of time. However, I also started thinking about what more I can do as a Husband and Father, or should I say NEED to do. And then it hit me.

While 10 years seems like a long time, it's nothing compared to eternity. My number one job on this earth is to love God, my wife, and children. If I do that with all my heart, strength, and courage I will have succeeded in my marriage and in leading them to Heaven.

I have a prayer that I want to share. This prayer asks for the intercession of St. Paul of the Cross, whose feast day we celebrate today. I also pray it regularly with my other daily prayers.

St. Paul of the Cross

O glorious Saint Paul of the Cross, who, by meditating on the Passion of Jesus Christ, didst attain to so high a degree of holiness on earth and of happiness in Heaven, and, by preaching the same Passion, didst offer anew to the world the most certain cure for all its ills, obtain for us the grace to keep it ever deeply engraved in our hearts, that so we may be able to reap the same fruits both in time and in eternity. Amen.

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife and I pray each day for the strength and courage to be the best husband and father I can be.

Photo of St. Paul of the Cross is from A Catholic Child's Illustrated Lives of the Saints by L.E. McCullough.