I awoke today with a song in my heart and it has been a long time since that has happened. I went to sleep listening to some Elvis Gospel music and the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" and when I awoke it was the tune I was singing in the shower. It made my cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee taste all that much better. Music and coffee, what a combination to start the day!
I was taught long ago to take care of what you purchase, buy the best you can afford and it should last a long, long time. So whenever I buy new hunting boots, which is very seldom I always coat the leather boots with a preservative. I have one particular brand that I prefer and have used it since I was about 12 years old. I always brush on three coats of the preservative before I wear the boots for the first time. I usually will apply three to four coats during each year that I have the boots. My last pair served me well for twelve years.
You could say that I had a long lasting relationship with my boots until death parted us. My boots were finally laid to rest about a month ago. So if my boots which are well worn can last twelve years by taking care of them with preservative and they are only boots, why do marriage relationships fail? Marriage vows are supposed to be "until death do us part".
I think we forget to add preservatives to marriage. We forget to coat our relationships in kindness and sacrificial acts of love. We let the raw weather of life hit and abuse the unprotected skin of our marriages. We take for granted that they will last without taking care of the marriage.
"Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."- Ephesians 4:2-3
- If a husband and wife are humble, patient, gentle, and selfless in a relationship this will cause less confrontation and arguments. This verse reminds us to keep calm and do as Jesus would do.
There are many more "Marriage Maintenance" Scriptures we could mention, but this one should be sufficient for this morning. But like my boots that don't oil themselves, you have to put some effort into preserving a marriage.
Have you been preserving your marriage or letting the world whip and beat on it? I always say that preserving is easier than rebuilding. Just saying???
Have a great day.
Marty
Great reminder I catch myself in this scenario at times
ReplyDeleteMe too.
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