Marriage a Four Letter Word 12/13/13

Good Morning,

Friday morning and it feels so good. My coffee cup is full of Door County Jingle Bell Java today.

I love Christmas. For some reason the Mrs. and I really get into the season. I enjoy shopping for her. We don't spend a lot of money on each other. But we spend time on picking out the perfect little gifts. Many years ago our daughter and my wife used paint pens to decorate two pair of pantyhose as their Christmas stockings. My job was to fill the hosiery with goodies and gifts. So I know that my wife loves Goldfish Crackers, custard gift certificates from Leon's, sugar free marshmallow Christmas candy, cashews, old movies, jewelry and other things. This did not happen overnight for me. When we were dating and our first Christmas came around I bought her a crock pot and a sweater. I can still see her face when she opened that crock pot. It actually was better than the face she made when I bought her a fishing pole the next year.

Here's the deal. Marriage is made up of several four letter words.

1. Love.
1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

2. Work
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
¹⁰ If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

3.Bear
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

We love one another and I cannot imagine what life would be like without Rene. But it takes love. We both love God and that is the best place to start. God teaches us how to love unconditionally. Rene loved me so much that she never said a word about the crock pot. She never used it, but she never complained. Just recently I said "boy did I blow that first Christmas with a crock pot." I received a smile and a laugh. I was told "not that bad I stuck around for a lot more."

Work at your marriage. You will see as you get older it pays off as health deteriorates and you rely on each other more. Working together right away in the beginning sets a pattern for later. It becomes a joy and labor of love.

Bear. I did not need Rene nor did she need me. We chose to share the rest of our lives together. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes it's tough to live with me. Imagine that????? And at times Rene has a stubborn streak. But is it really worth an argument? Not really, accept each other and bear up with each others weird habits and imperfections at times. It is more peaceful and often brings a laugh.

I better remember the cashews!

Love to all,
Marty