rl69
10-10-2016, 06:34 AM
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.—Philippians 2:3 (http://harvest.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4f108f827aed8d503b5fca9fa&id=9c0e1ed6ee&e=3dd732485b)I once heard a story about a husband and wife who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. At a gathering for friends and family, the husband stood up and proclaimed, "I love this woman so much." Turning to his wife, he said to her, "Dear, because you have given me twenty five years of wedded bliss, I am taking you to China."
The wife was so excited. She exclaimed, "China! I have always wanted to go to China!" Then she said to her husband, "If you are doing that for our 25th wedding anniversary, I can't wait to see what you will do for our 50th wedding anniversary!"
The husband replied, "That is when I will pick you up."
A story like that is funny to hear, but the reality of how our culture views marriage is no laughing matter. As Oscar Wilde wrote, "The world has grown so suspicious of anything that looks like a happy married life."
Is a long and happy marriage even possible? Can a woman and a man fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after? That is what the fairytales tell us. Is it more realistic to ask if couples can live "happily evenafter" they're married?
I'm here to tell you, the answer is yes. It is possible to have a happy marriage. It is possible to have a strong marriage. But it doesn't happen by random chance.
Sometimes people say, "They have a marriage made in heaven." Does that mean that others have a marriage made in hell? No. If you see a marriage that looks like it was made in heaven, it is because those people have applied themselves to making it work.
When a husband and wife are each putting the other one first, with Christ as their foundation, they can experience a happy and fulfilling marriage.
The wife was so excited. She exclaimed, "China! I have always wanted to go to China!" Then she said to her husband, "If you are doing that for our 25th wedding anniversary, I can't wait to see what you will do for our 50th wedding anniversary!"
The husband replied, "That is when I will pick you up."
A story like that is funny to hear, but the reality of how our culture views marriage is no laughing matter. As Oscar Wilde wrote, "The world has grown so suspicious of anything that looks like a happy married life."
Is a long and happy marriage even possible? Can a woman and a man fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after? That is what the fairytales tell us. Is it more realistic to ask if couples can live "happily evenafter" they're married?
I'm here to tell you, the answer is yes. It is possible to have a happy marriage. It is possible to have a strong marriage. But it doesn't happen by random chance.
Sometimes people say, "They have a marriage made in heaven." Does that mean that others have a marriage made in hell? No. If you see a marriage that looks like it was made in heaven, it is because those people have applied themselves to making it work.
When a husband and wife are each putting the other one first, with Christ as their foundation, they can experience a happy and fulfilling marriage.