I just attended the funeral of a friend. She battled cancer for the past year and half. She leaves 3 precious, beautiful teen daughters. She was only 38 years old.
I am certain if you would have told my friend two years ago that she had such a short time left on this earth to spend with her girls, she would have not believed you. But just like a blink of an eye, our lives can change. It did for my friend. And it has changed the lives of 3 precious girls forever.
Each of us has been given an allotted time on this earth. And God has given each of us purpose with that time He has allowed. There is purpose in the places that we work, there is purpose in raising our families, there is purpose in the Sunday School class we teach and most certainly there is purpose in the roles we have as godly wives.
Unfortunately, in today’s society, it seems like couples go into marriages with a lack of commitment and a lack of faithfulness. I have heard many un-churched couples say things like…”well, if it doesn’t work out, we will just go our separate ways. She can have the house, but I get the boat!” or “She has her life and I have mine!”
God’s intention for marriage is not just simple longevity, but a happy and mutually fulfilling lifelong union with one another. Unfortunately, what I see is the marriages long outliving the love for one another. For some reason, perhaps for economic gain or for the sake of the children, couples remain married physically but they have gone their separate ways emotionally. They reside in the same house, but they live separate lives. They have allowed their love to die and be replaced by other things, other choices.
In today’s hustle and bustle, it is easy to put our relationships with each other (husband and wife) on the back burner as we tend to important business meetings, coaching t-ball, and running the kids here and there to all of their games and practices. But can I implore you – it is imperative that you take care of your marriage relationship by spending time with one another.
A relationship is a living thing and TIME is the oxygen that it requires. Sometimes we just need to make time for one another. It won’t be the end of the world if you miss a business meeting or if you postpone it.
MATTHEW 19:6 “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together.”
Can you slow down the merry-go-round you are on called “life” long enough to ask yourself this…”Are my spouse and I behaving like a married couple these days or more like roommates?”
If your merry-go-round is spinning faster than life, it might be time to jump off and spend a little time with one another. Like my friend, you too may have just a short time left to do the important things. Putting your spouse first and loving him like there is no tomorrow is a purpose worth living out.
Laurie! This is so well said. I love the line: “A relationship is a living thing and TIME is the oxygen that it requires.” I have been feeling this very same way. Choosing to have a heart that is diligent to maintain a deep relationship with the Lord, my husband and our children. Very encouraging thank you!
This was beautifully written…and such a good reminder to me!
Thank you so much for the reminder that it is not just about living, but loving!!!
Blessings,
~Kerri
As a newlywed we are still in that “newlywed” stage, but it is a good reminder to know that we have to work to stay in that stage.
This is a great post! Your words really hit home with me! Sometimes I have to remind myself that the most important thing I can do for my kiddos isn’t in all my busy work or even in my play time with them…but it’s in letting them see and know that their mommy and daddy love each other and we put one another first! We make time, we prioritize and as a result, we’re ALL a lot happier and secure!
Thank you for this!!!
Laurie,
Thank you for such an important message for all those married folks out there. One of the reasons my second marriage failed is due to the lack of time my husband needed from me. By time I realized it a series of unfortunate things took place which finally destroyed the marriage. If I had only seen how busy I was with doing good for others this may have not happened. Be devoted to God first, your spouse & children next, church, & last the rest of the world. I appreciate your words of wisdom for us.
Laurie,
Wonderful words spoken! The lack of time spent on each other is one of the reasons some couples look up at one another after their kids are out of the house and wonder who they are looking at. They were so busy focusing on everything else they forgot to take the time to look up at the person they began those lives with.