Weddings are fun, such possibility. Such hope, so much promise an inspired life. That’s the easy part.
A long happy marriage isn’t easy. It seems to be a rarity these days.
This past week I attended the 50th wedding anniversary of some distant family (whom I’d never met).
I asked Jack, who was celebrating 50 years of marriage, a few questions about his marriage; was he happy and how can anyone else accomplish such a feat? Having been divorced, I am acutely aware that 50 years is no small task. And 50 years of being happy isn’t a real goal. But how to weather those years and strive for happiness is worth exploration for us all.
Jack said this; “Let God lead” and “Give a little, take a little”. I mulled this over for more and journaled about it. Here is what I managed to pull from someone who is bucking the trends;
- First, we need to have faith to make it. The stats show that almost as many Christians get divorced as anyone else. We can’t let this stand guys. However, almost is a bit better than the same but let’s strive for a wider gap.
- Second, it takes real working together to make it. If you are counting on your spouse to make you happy, think again. See #1 again and if that’s still not enough ask your self this question, what did your vows say? “Better or worse”? Why is that?
- We have to really set practices in place to help ourselves be successful in marriage just like we do for our business/career (i.e. yearly counseling checkups, doing activities together besides watching TV, reading books together, challenging each other to be better, etc..). It won’t happen magically.
It’s not rocket science. It’s methodic. It’s intentionality. Working for 50 years takes effort on our part.
I’m working to “give a little and take a little” and letting “God lead” in my own marriage.
photo credit: Photos Edge
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