Marriage....

Since most of you don't know me and probably never will let's get real for a moment.

Marriage can be hard.  Really hard.  To stay married to one person for the rest of your life well, that's just unheard of in this day and age of disposable everything.  The thought process is if you aren't happy then by all means throw that one out and get another one.  (I would like to interject that this does not apply in all situations and I don't know your situation and if you are offended because your marriage failed because of much deeper harder issues then by all means I am not talking to you!)

I'm talking to the girl I worked with at Proffitt's department store many moons ago that was 18 and decided that she would get married.  It was crazy out of the blue and to some guy she just met and when I asked her about it she said Well, I figure I'll try out this marriage thing and if it doesn't work out we can always get divorced!  Well, no.  That's not exactly the thought process behind marriage although that is apparently what it has become to some.

Take a second.  I want you to think of all of the people in your life.  Parents, grandparents, friends and relations is there any of those people that given the opportunity to be shackled to them for life that they would not at some point get on your nerves even if it is just a smidge?

Ok.  This is my point.  Throw in hormones and you have yourself one fine mess of crazy happenin' all up in here.

You might run into an old flame and they might talk really nice to you and you might start thinking Wow, this person really appreciates me for who I am!  This person gets me!  Hold it right there.  That person no more gets you than the guy that is ringing you up at Target does!  Girls like to hear they are pretty...You're pretty.  That shouldn't make you want to leave your spouse for me.  Girls like to think they are witty and interesting.  I'm sorry but after several years of marriage you just aren't any more, but that's the thing!

Once you decide that you don't want out.  You want to stick with this person you have selected to share your life with through thick and thin and no matter what you aren't going to try to get out something beautiful happens.  I'm not saying it's always there but you can feel it.

Be it the knowledge that this person is your partner throughout your life.  Be it the comfort of knowing they will always be there.  I don't know what it is but it is an ever present orb of warm and fuzzy!

Does my husband not still make me mad from time to time?  Sure!  He is a professional at it!  He has had 22 years of practice at it!  Do I love him more today than I did 22 years ago!  Oh my heavens yes!

God will be faithful to you in your commitment.  God will bless your determination to stick with it and work it out!  It won't be easy!  The easy thing to do would be to just give up, but where is the challenge in that?  May God bless your marriage and may you find peace and comfort with your spouse!

Have a great day!