The Better Part - Intentional Living for Christian Moms with a Bible-Loving Catholic Mama Jenna Scott

Let's kick the marriage series off with a fun one! Let's talk temperaments! This is one of the oldest personality tests out there, and it is based more on NATURE than on NURTURE. In fact, often when investigating what temperament you are, you are supposed to think about how you were as a child. As we grow, we tend to develop habits, grow in virtues, and learn how to soften out some of our less desirable attributes, which can mask our natural tendencies. If you haven't ever looked into your own temperament, check out this quiz:



https://www.temperamentquiz.com/



You will likely be given a primary and a secondary temperament. If your husband can also discover his temperament, it could be fun for you to compare and contrast your natural reactions to life events, and to see how you handle your life and relationship together.



If you would like an overview of the temperaments, here's a good one in the context of faith:



https://spiritualdirection.com/2019/03/18/the-four-temperaments-and-the-spiritual-life



Lastly, if you'd like to learn more, I recommend the books by Art and Laraine Bennett. The Temperament God Gave Your Kids has helped me on MANY occasions! These go through many fun combinations of spousal temperament combinations and parent-to-kid combinations! Even if you don't feel completely understood by any singular temperament, it's food for conversation, and that can be really helpful! Here are some ideas for fun discussion with your husband.



Conversation starters with your husband about temperaments:


Do you know your (and your spouse's) temperament?
What is your favorite thing about your spouse's temperament?
Do you share a temperament? How do you think that affects the way you run your house/family (for better and for worse)?
Does your shared temperament (or lack thereof) affect the overall culture of your family? How do you think that affects your kids? Make sure to start with the positives!
If you have a temperament that is not represented in your relationship, are there any qualities that you are missing that need to be tended to? (i.e. a couple missing a melancholic could use a growth in commitment, structure, or aim for ideals)

Let's begin a new series on MARRIAGE!



This episode sets a perspective for the rest of this series by:


Giving background info on Jenna's marriage story
Reminding that our marriage cannot (and is not meant to) be our total fulfillment--that's God's job!
Separating major marriage issues including abuse or other patterns of major difficulties from the more common problems husbands and wives deal with.



I can't wait to go through this series with you! Please join me every week so we can grow in love for our husbands and ultimately, God!



Remember: This series will go through many topics that pertain to marriage and will compile "best practices" from research, experts, marriage counselors, and personal experience, BUT it cannot replace good, personal counsel. If you are having major marriage issues, please still listen! But also, seek out professional help from someone who will help you fight for your marriage.



If you are not sure where to start, check out Hearts Renewed: a marriage transformation program at https://www.heartsrenewed.org/



Before next week, think about:


What season you are in in your marriage right now (winter, spring, summer or fall)
10 ways your husband shows (or tries to show) his love for you

Join next Tuesday, May 28th for a new series all about... MARRIAGE!



I hope you join me for all kinds of topics concerning marriage, including: communication, friendship, parenting, finances, and more! See you here next week!

For the last episode of this series, Marci Combo and I discuss what prayer looks like for each of us. We answer a couple of questions that listeners have asked about: how our relationships with each person of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) work in our prayer lives, and what our daily prayer routines tend to look like.



We also touch on topics that haven't yet been discussed in this series including: the sacraments, praise and worship, the value of friends who are like-minded in faith, parts in our lives where prayer has been more difficult, and more! We hope you enjoy this candid conversation!



After this episode, The Better Part will be taking a break! Keep subscribed to this podcast, and look forward to the next series coming up in a couple of months. Follow @thebetterpartpod on Instagram to be kept up-to-date on when and what that series will be! Can't wait to see you then!



Please share your feedback for future episodes and series through this form: https://forms.gle/Wb1svgcskrxQaCoP8

Join in for a rosary that follows along with verses from God's Holy Word! The rosary is a beautiful, effective prayer that allows you to meditate on "mysteries" while repeating rote prayers.

If you've never prayed the rosary, check out this thorough and helpful page from Hallow. It gives an explanation of what the rosary is, why we pray it, and how to pray it.
https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-the-rosary/#why

For more scriptural rosaries, check out Kate and Mike, Catholic Crusade on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2kswYgBvPQMOvzn4Z3Yi5Q?si=CjBIpjhhTXmsN6o6x-adjg&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A5uz4hhJ2QYtsIJ7Xf4pb32

Lastly, if you'd like to give feedback for the next series of this podcast, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/Wb1svgcskrxQaCoP8

Whether we show up nice and neat or as a big ol' mess, God is 100% present to us! Reflect about how He loves us despite our mess and then join in for another led meditation.



This meditation comes from the book An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. It prompts you to consider how you were created fully by God and not by your own doing. The world would have gone on without you, but God deemed to create you out of love for this time in particular. In gratitude, we offer our praise and thanks to Him and apologize for when we forget this fact!



This amazing book has more wonderful meditations as well as simple, short chapters that can prompt your heart toward God. I receive absolutely nothing if you buy this book, I just truly think it is wonderful! Check it out here: https://a.co/d/fSr2kp5