Recently I heard a broadcast on the internet about marriage. It talked about the different times we go through in our marriages. The program talked about the four seasons we have in our marriages; likening times in our marriages to spring, summer, fall, and winter. Some of the seasons are easy and wonderful. Other times the seasons can be difficult. They can be a struggle to get through and to keep going.
I was reminded of our own marriage. We have now been married for 53 years!!! It has definitely had its seasons! Some of them have been easy and some of them have been difficult. But we have hung in there with each other.
I'd like to share with you one of the verses that really helped to carry me through. These verses are from the Amplified Bible. The verses from the Amplified Bible are generally wordier and more explicit about the ideas in the Bible. Let me share with you from Ephesians 5:33b
"and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and references her husband - that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, generates and esteems him, and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly."
I actually wrote these exact verses down in the back of my Bible so I could go to them and remind myself how I should be thinking/acting/ and responding to Gail. Is he perfect? Am I perfect? Absolutely not! But we have tried to seek God out and live as the Bible has asked. When struggling with your spouse and marriage, remember these verses and check your thoughts and actions. God will be glorified and can get you through the hard times.
