Thursday, August 1, 2013

Marriage

Listening to the sounds of Mickey Mouse, watching my 2 year old run around the house, waiting on hold with our bank for what seems like forever, I read a blog post titled Going The Distance.  The author is celebrating her 36th wedding anniversary.  In today's day and age of starter marriages and quickie divorces, 36 years may seem like a lifetime. 

I've noticed a trait among successful marriages that I think the author does a good job of touching upon.  People who are happily and successfully married put their spouses first.  They spend the time to make their spouse feel important.  They go out of their way to tell their spouse they love them and they tell them often.  They don't hold grudges.  They learn to hold their tongues and they hold them often.  They praise their spouse.  They are partners in all areas of life. They recognize that loving their spouse and loving them publicly teaches their children how to grow up and have their own happy, successful marriages. 

On the flip side I've noticed a trait among those people who appear to be unhappily married.  They disagree or fight publicly and in front of their children.  They hold grudges.  They give each other the silent treatment.  They don't let go of past mistakes.  They put themselves and their own needs first.  They complain about their spouse to anyone who will listen.  They never praise their spouse.  They treat their spouse like one of their children.

The kind of relationship you have with your spouse directly correlates to the kind of relationship your children grow up to have with their spouses.  It's never too late to change the relationship you have with your spouse.  Each day is a chance to show your spouse how much you love them and cherish them.  Don't let today end without your spouse knowing how important they are in your life.