If you could give
one piece of advice to any married (or soon-to-be married) couple, what would
it be?
What is an
absolute MUST for any marriage/relationship?
Daily expressions of love, however your spouse
best receives it. I love the concept of the Five Love Languages (it works in all
relationships, not just marital) because it addresses that each person gives
and receives love differently. We can think we're expressing love to our
spouse constantly, but if we're speaking only our language and not theirs, they
may not be hearing us. If we don't take the time to let our spouse know
at least on a daily basis that we love them it's easy to drift apart.
That reminder that you love them is also just as much for them as it is for
you--it's a way to refocus your thoughts and actions in a way that supports
that love.
What is the #1
no-no in a marriage?
"Secret" friends. Without even
going so far as to say infidelity, if you feel the need to hide a relationship
from your spouse you should ask yourself why. So you say you're hiding it
because your spouse overreacts? Then discuss it with them up front.
Respect your spouse's feelings--if they reasonably request that you avoid
certain behaviors with friends of the opposite sex then you need to respect
that.
What is the
biggest lesson you have learned from your marriage?
Wow--I have to pick just one
again? I'm going to cheat and say that the biggest lesson I have learned
is how to be a better Christian because that includes: learning to apologize
better and sooner, learning to make sacrifices, learning forgiveness, learning
how to be slow to anger, etc., etc., etc.! I think when I was younger I
knew that one of the points of marriage was to be a model of Christ's love for
the church, but I didn't really get that until I was married and saw how that
all played out. I really get it now and constantly find it amazing how
the lessons I learn from marriage really apply to Christianity.
Found you from the link-up - great advice! I think you're right that marriage can make you a better Christian: acts of love and selflessness, putting another before yourself, etc. I never really thought about it that way before!
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Thanks, Kristin--glad you stopped by! I think the biggest "Aha!" moment I had was when I thought about how much I love my husband and realized that Christ loves me MORE than that! Last night I was thinking about all my faults and how my husband still loves me and said to God, Well, he must feel how you feel!
ReplyDeleteI really like the concept of "who has the greater need" I am going to tell my husband about that one! It really is a good thing to keep in mind and would probably save us a lot of time during a disagreement, ha! Thanks for linking up with us!! Hope you join us again next week :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more on your no-no!! You're a smart lady. Also, I like yer fish down at the bottom of the page.
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