(Article reprinted from The Link, February, 1976)
Remember you were a married man before you became a deacon. Your family is your first priority.
Make your spouse and children feel like part of a team. Listen actively to their ideas and gripes.
Be a spiritual director at home first—they need you too.
Don’t expect to be a honored member in your family—you have been blessed by the Lord, not beatified!
Don’t compare your wife and family to those of other deacons, either favorably or unfavorably.
Don’t try to solve all the problems of the Church at once. Seek the direction of the Lord and try to do one or two things well.
Try to accept criticism and don’t pretend that you have all the answers. People know better.
Set aside a reasonable amount of time each week to be with family. No one is indispensable.
Keep a calendar and inform your wife of your schedule.
Love the Lord God with all your heart and soul, and your neighbor as yourself.