A few things I'm still learning...
1. Husbands...God did not give you authority in your household so you can get your way. When God gives authority to you, it is ALWAYS for the benefit of those you are responsible for. If you want a great marriage, pursue your wife's well-being above your own.
2. You can get married in 30 minutes but it can take 30 years to have a marriage.
3. The way a man TREATS his wife is a reflection of his strength or weakness.
4. Before you complain about your wife LOOK in the mirror & ask yourself, "Is God pleased with the way I'm being a husband?"
5. She's my wife, not my child. God took woman out of man's side (close to his heart). I don't rule over her & she doesn't rule over me. We walk TOGETHER in mutual respect, sacrifice, forgiveness & purpose.
Beverly & I have been teasing back & forth, for a couple of weeks, by calling each other "King" & "Queen." One thing that makes me smile is that we share a similar humor. We can hear something, see something or say something that will make one another laugh...and we could laugh about it for a few weeks. lol
Marriage takes work. You have to be committed. You have to be willing to work through your personality differences & quirks. We don't claim to have a perfect marriage, by any means, but we have a GOOD marriage. When you add the weight of ministry in the mix...we have to remember that God brought us together as husband & wife with an added benefit of a shared calling. Sometimes the weight is extremely heavy...but God has always carried us through. :)
These past few months have been tough on marriages. We've prayed for a lot of couples. The stress of what's happening in the world has been intense. Friends, don't give up on your marriage. Be flexible, quick to forgive, refuse to hold grudges, learn to love one another the way that CHRIST LOVES YOU.
Marriage is honorable.