31 Days: Pathway to Perseverance - Marriage for a Lifetime

One of the best examples of perseverance in practice is marriage. Like all relationships, there is a foundation that must be built and a few key principles that can help to make a marriage flourish.  

Being fully committed to the relationship builds trust and security. Through good times or bad, happy or sad, commitment is the seal on the deal. One that holds tighter as the years go by. 

I heard a saying recently, "don't get caught up in the thick of thin things."  It is easy to get bogged down unnecessarily by the things that really do not matter, like our (my) own agenda.  Relationships deepen and intimacy is built when we choose to lay down our rights and put the needs of our spouse first. When we keep the needs of others (our spouse, children, family) as priority and seek to do what is best for them, we are in the thick of the thick and important work of being Jesus to those whom we love. 

I often have to remind myself that happiness is not the key to a long lasting marriage. There will be times when staying together is little more than a choice, but we count on each other to honor our  commitment .Even when marriage looks a little more like work than fun, we put in the effort together.  We come through the unhappy times and celebrate together in happy times --we flourish.


I am convinced that having a relationship that is built on a mutual love of Jesus and a sincere desire to please God through the way we love our spouse and honor our marriage, will provide all that we need to persevere through the long haul and turn "I Do" into "We Do" for a lifetime. 



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