Building A Better Marriage (2)

Live in... harmony. Romans 15:5

Jean Kerr says, "Getting married is like buying something you've admired for ages in a shop window. You love it, but when you get it home it doesn't always go with everything!"

Paul says, "Live in...harmony."

Hereare three suggestions:

(1) Stay teachable. Solomon says, "Answering before listening is...stupid and rude" ( Proverbs 18:13 ).

Keep an open mind. Don't form your response while your mate is still talking. The Bible says, "Do not merely look out for your own...interests, but also for the interests of others" ( Philippians 2:4 ).

Never become so entrenched in your position that you don't consider your mate's viewpoint.
Listening is about connecting and acknowledging where the other person's coming from.

(2) Keep humour alive. God says, "A cheerful heart brings a smile...asad heart makes it hard to get through the day" ( Proverbs 15:13 ).

When you're experiencing money woes, family problems, illness or plain old exhaustion, humour eases the tension and restores perspective.

(3) Eliminate the "D" word.

Although God permits divorce under certain circumstances it's never His ideal. One couple that worked through their marriage troubles said,
"We're glad we didn't give up during the difficult years. We hung in long enough to realize that it really can get better with time."

By committing to work on the relationship, no matter how things ultimately end up, you'll never regret your efforts.