There are key values in a relationship that make a marriage viable, lasting and exemplary. At the very core is commitment; not just an agreement, but an honest to goodness, true life, through thick-and-thin commitment. A commitment that is renewed every single morning.
Contentment in any relationship is birthed in essential principles, regardless of the personal sacrifice it takes to insure one another’s mutual gratification. Knowing without any shadow of doubt that your mate loves God more than you, and loves you more than him/herself, gives us lasting serenity.
We do not have to earn this love. It is freely given regardless of the circumstances, irritations, broken promises, disappointments, etc. We pledge our faithfulness to one another, and we resist any temptation that tends to draw us away from our vows.
We trust each other to be faithful, because we are secure in our knowledge that we are truly and absolutely loved selflessly and unconditionally. Our marriage was not one of convenience, or a deadline in our five-year plan, or a shift in circumstances, or confidence that she would say, “yes”, or the end of one road onto the next.
Regardless of our life’s direction, we truly and sacrificially love one another as Jesus loves the Church, His own Bride. We cannot imagine life without each other. We practice patience when we disagree, forgiveness when we hurt each other, and honesty when we discuss decisions that we must make as a couple.
Do not marry a person who is second best, or settle for someone who is fair, but not great. Waiting for true love is worth the time spent praying for God’s choice of a mate for us. That someone should enjoy spending time with us, who is compatible to our personality, and who shares our worldview and ideology about life.
We need to trust each other to always do what is best for one another. Giving each other shared time together is the greatest gift that we can receive. Enjoying each other’s company, even in the little most mundane projects, gives us opportunities to grow together as best friends.
Prayer:
Father God, teach us to be selfless in our marriage, to honestly communicate what we want and need, to readily forgive each other’s shortcomings and offences, and to prefer one another more than doing anything else with our time, finances and efforts. Help us to see things in each other that we can appreciate and respect. We are the only wife/husband and mother/father that our family has, so help us to be faithful to our mate and family first and foremost.
Remind us to prove to each other that we are trustworthy in all things, because without trust, love will never flourish. Help us to show kindness, compassion, forgiveness, support, consideration, and a willingness to find a third option when we disagree with each other. Prompt us to respect one another’s boundaries and need for alone time in order to make room for individuality. As we seek Your will for each moment of our life – individually and as a couple, we will flourish in our relationship with You and with one another.
Thought for the Day:
Expecting our mate to live up to our private presumptions, or the mold formed for men and women by society around us, is self-defeating and unfair; accepting each other exactly as we are, yet being willing to change to meet the needs in our partner’s life, and providing our mate a helping hand when a trial tries to ruin their life, will all help us to form a union and bond that nothing and no one can divide.
