Tuesday, February 12, 2013

7 Keys To Making Your Marriage Last

What are the seven keys to making your marriage last? Here are some helpful reminders to work out long before you say, ''I Do." 

1. Don't settle for a lasting marriage. Build a lasting, loving one. That means there are times we must put our own feelings aside and be more considerate, forgiving and kind. Do for him or her what you want done for you. In other words be an example of a love that lasts. Discuss the reasons why you do what you do and note the benefits.

2. Good marriages are built by good people. While you want to be appreciated for who you are changes in your own viewpoint will need to be made in order to accommodate your marriage partner and let him or her into your live. You will need to learn to give them needed space and take on the necessary qualities to become more of a compliment of the other.

3. You and your spouse will make mistakes. Minor and major. Understand how your mistakes impact your mate emotionally, mentally and yes, financially.  Find out how mistakes can alter their plans for the future and even alter the way that person functions in life and provides support to you. A single apology may not be enough for long term losses. Learn how to undo the damage done and pick up the broken pieces while mend the relationship as best you can. 

4. Remember that marriage is a legal partnership and with any partnership there are business contracts that must be adhered to. Honor your agreements. If you are a wife and must work a secular job to supplement income remember the contractual reasons why you are there and live up to them. Instead of building a life outside the home, center your life around the one who vowed loyalty, friendship and commitment to you, your mate. Know the difference between secular ambition and loving marital commitment.

5. Marriage is companionship. A companion is loving, protective and supportive much like a gentlemen's gentlemen. It is no compromise of gender to be similarly supportive to the one who plans to spend his or her life with you. But companionship is also about nurturing and taking the time to enjoy the memories of the times your shared, seeing good for your hard work.

6. Marriage is friendship and true friendship is everlasting. 

7. Remember that marriage is more than living or rooming together for convenience sake. Marriage is making a commitment to love, care for, honor and subject oneself to the other. 
It about confirming your love by putting up with and dealing with the problems and challenges. Commitments that last are a constant affirmation of ones love, approval and worth. 

Almost 2 thousand years ago similar words were written to families in the Roman Province of Corinth. 
"Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.  It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
-1 Cor 13:4-8.

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