Determined to understand what went wrong I did a lot of soul-searching and had some very effective counseling. I know all too well the potholes on the road ahead so you could say I’ve learned a few things on that journey.
Marriage advice I wish someone had told me before I stood at the altar with my eyes locked on the man who captured my heart so long ago.
If I could have a wedding day chat and give my younger-self marriage advice it would go something like this:
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Determine to be determined.
Begin with the end in mind. Just as you put thought, effort and planning into careers, retirement, and child-rearing, a successful marriage takes that same effort – maybe even more. What do you want your marriage to look like? Spend time talking about the characteristics of a Godly marriage, and then create habits and boundaries that will foster and protect this delicate relationship.
2. Don’t expect your spouse to meet all of your needs.
Your spouse will disappoint you, and you will disappoint your spouse. That disappointment has the potential to steal your happiness and even impact your self-worth. Stay grounded in who God says you are so that when you meet the disappointments along the road, your confidence won’t crumble.
3. Embrace the unexpected.
Consider looking at the unexpected as an adventure. One that entices you to move out of your comfort zone. Just like our vision along a twisty-turny road can be obscured, our vision of the marriage road can be short-sighted. The unexpected provides opportunities to grow closer to one another. Thank you, Lysa TerKeurst, for that wisdom!
4. Fight for the love you have right now.
Marriage is a battle and there are many enemies against your success. Put on the armor of God and take the fight to your knees. Become experts at conflict management. It’s not about winning, it’s about compromising and making sacrifices. A beautiful dance of two forgiving people fighting for the same end goal.
5. Pray for your spouse.
A lot. It might not change them, but it will change you. It will make you fall deeper in love and deeper in your ability to extend grace.
6. Talk to each other all the time and about everything.
Attend marriage retreats and seminars in the good times. This will help you maintain focus on your marriage and learn tactics to help keep your relationship strong and growing. Seek Godly counsel if the bumpy road tosses you off the track and listen to marriage advice.
7. Little things add up.
Whether they are good little things like thank-yous, flowers, love notes, and special dates, or not-so-good little things like forgetting commitments, too much TV, or coming home late one too many times. They all add up. Too many of the not-so-good little things have a sneaky way of canceling out many of the good little things.
It is my hope I have passed this hard-won marriage advice onto my children over the years. And I pray the legacy of divorce in our family ends here today.
As these new hopes and old memories fill my heart, it seems like it wasn’t that long ago she was slipping her small hand into mine. I hold on tight for I need her as much as she needs me.
Then I come back fully into the present. I see a beautiful young woman whose hands are slipped snugly into the hands of the man she vows to love and honor the rest of her life.
And I, too, make a vow.
A vow to pray for them daily as they embark on this glorious journey. To entrust her to the man who holds her heart and to see her first as his wife. To point them in God’s direction with every twisty-turn for He is the only unshakeable foundation.
As they say their “I do’s” I release her into God’s embrace. And I watch Him weave their lives together into a sacred place. A place created just for them. A place in His divine masterpiece. What a beautiful sight indeed!
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This article originally appeared at Journey to Him, published with permission.
