The Secret to a Lasting Marriage

Disclaimer: I did not write this, but came across it today and thought it would be a good post. Sometimes marriages go through lulls that may last a while. That doesn't have to mean your marriage is over.
http://www.simplemarriage.net/the-secret-to-a-lasting-marriage.html

Written by Corey 

The divorce rate continues to hover around 50%. There is even a belief among some that if marriage becomes too much work or is too difficult or if you are not happy enough, get a divorce.

My opinion of this idea: why take the easy way out?

Marriage is work. Marriage is struggle. But then again, any close relationship is. And for that matter, so is anything of value in life.

There are times I have been asked,
“What makes a marriage last?”

“What’s the secret to a lasting marriage?”

The answer is actually simple (simple is not to be confused with easy).

Before I divulge the answer, let’s tackle a few marriage myths.

Thanks to popular press and Hollywood, the work involved in marriage is poorly displayed. Many people seem to think that marriage will be a lifelong romantic escapade along the shore at sunset before returning home for the nightly passionate adventure enveloped in silk sheets with your lover. I know you’ve bought into this idea somewhat if you can easily complete this phrase: “and they all lived…”

The honeymoon is over, morning breath has set in, your partner sees you for who you are, plus you see your partner more for who they are. You realize that marriage requires more of you. The dream of marriage has been replaced with the reality of marriage. You and your spouse don’t see eye to eye on everything. You’ve slept on the couch at least once in your married life. There has been a roller coaster of feelings. Close. Distant. Passion. Boredom. Joy. Sadness.

When you get right down to it, marriage is not about happiness. Marriage is about two people growing up and becoming better humans.

Nowhere else are we faced with the task of growth more than marriage.
So what’s the secret to making marriage last?

Two people who choose to stay married. That’s it.

Marriage is choice. Choice of partner, choice of self, choice of growth, even choice of passion and adventure.
While this may at first appear simplistic, it should be.

When you view what’s going on in your marriage as a process for growth and experiencing more in life, it makes the choice simple.

Most of the time, we focus on our partner and our desire for them to change or do something different. This is focusing on something we can’t control. If we decide to grow, do something different, change the things we don’t like about ourselves, we take charge of our own life as well as our relationship.

With everything that happens to us in life and love, how you view it will determine the outcome. When you have times of disagreement, could it really be a time to grow closer? Or a time to understand more about your spouse? When you feel your partner pulling away, maybe it’s an opportunity to engage your partner in a better way.

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I would like to add to the article that those of us who have entered into this covenant with God involved also have Him to rely on during these times. He can restore joy, hope and growth and rekindle love, even when it seems that there is no other option but to separate.  If you feel like you are alone in your marriage, always remember that God is there too. Its a three part commitment, and He will never be the one to back out of His part.

I do believe that physical abuse and infidelity are definite grounds for reconsideration but I do believe God can heal even those wounds if both parties are in total humility and allow God to do a work. There is so much more to this than I want to blog about and I'm not trying to open up a huge battle ground topic.

I hope you are encouraged if you needed this!  Its always a good reminder, even if everything is going swimmingly in your marriage.
Hugs,