Marriage from My Perspective

I've read three blogs today that spoke of writing what we really feel, what we want to say, and not worrying about what other people think.  The following post is my own experience and opinion.  Feel free to agree or disagree, but I make no apologies for what I write.

On the wall above Joshua's and my bed is one of those vinyl stick-em-to-the-wall quotes.  It was a gift from my friend Valerie, and it says "Just one lifetime won't be enough for us."

For us, marriage is forever.  I don't know for sure what marriage will be like in heaven, but I'm fairly certain that our relationship will still be special and different than our relationships with anyone else.  Saying that our marriage will last till heaven means our marriage will last our whole lives on earth.

In simple words, that means, no divorce.

EVER.

When we got married, we made promises to each other, to our family and friends, and to God that we would stay true and faithful till one another "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health...till death parts us."

When I make a promise to God, I'm not about to break it.

Sure, marriage can be tough.  I didn't get married because it makes life easier.  Quite the contrary: it adds a lot of complications to life!  But it also adds a lot of joy.  I've never been happier than I am now, married to Joshua.  I know for a fact I'd rather be with him and have the struggles and the joys that come with marriage, than not have him and avoid those struggles and joys.

I am, quite literally, stuck with my husband.  That's a good thing! :)  Having that mindset forces us to work through our problems and difficulties, not run from them.  We also have the realistic mindset that marriage isn't always happy-go-lucky and romance and flowers and chocolate.  There are going to be times when we'll be really unhappy with each other.  Sometimes life will be dull and boring.  Eventually we're going to get old and gray and wrinkled and we won't be the good-lookin' youngsters we are now. :)  But at the same time, there are those days when we have warm, fuzzy feelings for each other, those days when happiness and joy overflow, when love and passion are in abundance, and when life seems perfect.  I wouldn't give up those amazing days just to avoid the undesirable ones!

Marriage provides opportunity to learn how to love another person unconditionally, no matter what the other person does.  Marriage teaches husbands and wives the value of forgiveness, kindness, patience, gentleness, steadfastness, faithfulness, self-control, and selflessness.  Marriage, above all other relationships, forces people to abandon their inborn selfishness in order to care for and love the other person.

In marriage I have found the greatest human love and comfort imaginable.  Knowing that my husband will stay faithful to me no matter what, that he loves me even when I'm being a brat, that he will never leave me for any reason, is so reassuring and comforting.

There's nothing in heaven, on earth, or (particularly) under the earth, that could make me not want to be in this marriage!