Harnessing The Beauty Of Marriage

Marriage is a relationship , it is also an eternal concept. It is meant to be a loving, intimate, selfless relationship between a man and a woman that should  last through lifetime.The Bible teaches, “Husbands, obey your wives” (Ephesians 5:25) and “teach the young women … to love their husbands” (Titus 2:4). Love in marriage can be deeper and more selfless than in any other relationship. It is this type of love that Jesus expects of His followers, and it is the virtue that couples need the most.
Marriage involves spiritual, emotional, and physical closeness. In the Old Testament, we are taught, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Married couples are meant to be unified in every possible way. Sexual intimacy is an expression of love that brings happiness and unity into a marriage. It is also the power by which married couples can “multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Intimacy is also a  blessing that can lead to the incomparable joy of children as part of the eternal family unit.
Most marriages are founded on love but choosing to maintain and grow that love is usually a  challenge. That is where commitment comes in. God considers marriage to be an agreement between a husband and a wife. He expects us to dedicate ourselves to the relationship, and to recognise our responsibilities, duties, and loyalties both to our spouses  and to God. The scriptures can teach us how to do that.
Almost every marriage starts out as a huge celebration.Together with their family and friends, each couple is full of hopes and dreams for their future life together. But the road to a happy marriage is far from easy.  Today, divorce statistics shows that many couples opt not to complete the journey. It  would be easy to blame our high rate of marital failure on things like not spending enough quality time together, allowing bitterness and resentment to build in our hearts and failing to keep communication lines open. There is no end to books, articles and seminars that tell you how to improve these and many other aspects of your relationship.
While quality time, forgiveness and communication are vitally important to creating a happy marriage, if such things are not happening, it is usually a sign of a much deeper problem. And until this problem is addressed, no amount of external behaviour modification will work.It takes effort to protect, nurture, and grow a marriage. Between work schedules, children, and other obligations, sometimes it can seem impossible to maintain that partnership. When problems arise, some couples consider it  healthier to divorce and go their separate ways.
For others, it is a better choice to work on the relationship. If you want to stay with your partner and avoid divorce, there are proactive measures you can take. Commit to your Relationship:Toying with the idea that you might be better off outside of your marriage can put a major strain on your relationship. Honour and Respect your Partner: People inevitably change over time. Understanding, appreciating, and adapting to those changes is critical for any relationship. Start by making a list of your partner’s best qualities to remind yourself of the wonderful person you married. This exercise will help you remember why you fell in love with them in the first place.It also helps to vocalise how much you appreciate your partner’s quirks and eccentricities.
Let your partner know every day—through compliments or thank-you—that you appreciate all that they do.
Communicate Regularly: In the age of smartphones, Netflix, and work-from-home lifestyles, it is easy to get distracted. You might find that you often go days without having a real conversation with your spouse.Communicating openly about your life, interests, dreams, frustrations, and feelings are important ways to foster intimacy in a relationship.
Share Financial Expectations. Many marriages are fraught with disagreements over finances. Couples often bring different expectations about money to a relationship. Each partner can find it difficult to see the financial situation from the other person’s perspective.
Coming to an agreement about how your money will be handled is a critical component of a successful marriage. Agree on a budget, an approach to debt, and make a plan to live within your limits. It is also important to differentiate between needs and wants. While both are legitimate, couples can face problems if they try to fulfill all their wants without considering their budget.
Accept Each Other’s Fault: Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgives, so you must forgive others. – Colossians 3:13.
When we experience conflict with our spouse, it is helpful to remember to be patient with each other. The relationship is made up of two imperfect people. Your spouse is flawed and—brace yourself—so you are you. Making  allowance for human imperfections is the foundation for the conflict resolution and intimacy your relationship needs in order to thrive. When someone knows about our flaws and warts, then they really know us, and they can really love us. Sharing and accepting our faults is the foundation of love.

By: Favour Harry
Harry is a freelancer with The Tide.