Morning Devotional
June 30, 2005
"The Stages of Marriage" (Part 2)   
    by Don Emmitte

And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam. "At last!" Adam exclaimed. "She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called `woman,' because she was taken out of a man." This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. (Genesis 2:18-24 NLT).

 

Happily Married With Kids: It's Not Just a Fairy Tale is a recent book by Dr. Carol Ummel Lindquist offering tips to help married couples navigate the hurdles of parenting. In it she suggests the following:

 

§         Avoid the trap of exhaustion

§         Manage conflicts to improve communication

§         Stay best friends with each other

§         Balance work and home

§         Enjoy the kids and each other, at every age

§         Revive your sex life

§         Find humor in everyday difficulties

§         Make time for yourself and your marriage


Pretty good pieces of advice! There are other things too. One writer talking about how to "affair-proof" your marriage argues, ironically, to "get a life" that is separate from your partner. Stay interesting and your spouse will stay interested. Have separate hobbies, interests and friends- but also cultivate time together. You don't want to do everything separately.

 

Most of all I believe there is a focus in life that must be maintained centering itself in Christ. God made us in his image. Our reading for the past two mornings emphasizes God’s desire for us to be completed in one another. An essential part of that is centering our lives in his plan. I’m convinced that when you do that, your relationship will deepen between one another and become a wonderful crown in life. It is not effortless, but it is worth it!