Today marks the fifth anniversary of our marriage, nine and a half years as a couple and roughly fifteen years as friends. It is so fun to see where God has taken us. It was not even a year before we were married that we started our relationship with Jesus. Looking back, there would have been no way for our relationship to last, had we not met Jesus. I had perfected being stubborn, shutting down at confrontation (I am not a yeller), and getting my way in situations. Did I mention I come from a long line of strong willed women? When we decided to follow Jesus, our relationship changed in a way only God can do.
Several months before we were to say "I do," we attended a Rivercats game, the local AAA baseball team. We sat in the lawn seats, which is really just a big patch of grass on the away team's side and least expensive seats in the stadium. It is great to bring a blanket, hang out, people watch and not be confined in rows of seats. As we watched, an older gentleman came over to us and asked if we were dating or engaged. We answered yes and he proceeded to ask us if we knew Jesus. Yes, we just met him we had relied, to which he handed us a paper. He told us his name was Lloyd and about his wife, Bonnie, and how they had been married for years, which now I cannot recall how many, and how he volunteered at the stadium and made a little more small talk. Then he was on his way to other couples.
The paper we were handed was a list of their top ten for marriage. An amazing compilation of advice from a couple who experienced it first hand. An awesome gift to give someone who is in a relationship or about to be married or has been married for years. I know from my own experience that marriage is tough. Takes a lot of work. Sometimes more than you have strength to put in. But when you add Jesus to your marriage, everything changes. Grace changes. Love changes. And trust me, your marriage will never be the same.
I thought it would be fitting to share the list today and pray that if you find yourself in one of the above mentioned statuses that you would find some encouragement and benefit from someone who has been through it.
top ten list for marriage by Lloyd D. Reynolds
10. Never yell at each other, unless the house is on fire.
9. Celebrate the hundreds of things you like about each other rather than focusing on the two or three things that really bug you.
8. Don't compare your spouse or your marriage with others. Each marriage and each spouse is unique.
7. Don't leave - the way out is the way through.
6. Take time to be sweethearts. Continue to date each other and spend occasional weekends away together.
5. Develop genuine mutual respect and demonstrate it publicly and privately.
4. Forgive each other when needed and be willing to say, "I'm sorry."
3. Love each other sacrificially and use the words, "I love you," often.
2. Always enjoy talking to each other and talking to God together. Let God speak to you often as you read your bibles.
1. Make lifetime commitments to each other and to your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here's a little design spin that I put on it in an 8x10. You can download here.
