I have been thinking a lot about marriage these past few days. What makes one marriage work and another not? If the answer were simple, we would all be blissfully happy married folk. But alas, it is not. So I continue to ponder.
In my limited view of marriage, I see marriage as a long road trip. Some of it is spent navigating. Some of it is boring as you pass the same scenery for miles. Some of it is scary as you go through roads that you have seen before. And every once in a while, you have to get your hands dirty changing a flat tire. But sometimes... it is awesome. Those precious moments of windows-rolled-down, hair-going-wild, radio-blaring-your-favorite-song good. Those are the moments that we all strive for in marriage. They don't happen all the time. But when they do, it is legendary.
I believe it is naive to think that the entire road trip will be good songs and good weather. But when the occasional storm or flat tire does pop up, what does a couple do to get through it? I am sure every couple handles it in a different way than the next. But I wonder if there are fundamental truths... tools that help in those situations.
I know that for me, when the marriage waters get rough, I try to think back to when I first met David and remember the things that first drew me to him. I remember thinking that he seemed like a bad boy with his tattoos and quiet ways. I thought he was so HOT with his dark eyes and salt-n-pepper hair. I kind of laugh to myself about all of this. But I think it is good for me to remember the guy that I fell in love with back in 2000 and remind myself that that version of him still exists in the man, father, husband, and best friend that stands before me today.
Now I am not saying that this is the only tool on my marriage shelf, but it is good one that I constantly go back to. So it has me wondering, what other tools are out there? What do other couples do to keep their marriage road trip on course?
Tell me - what tried and true tools do you use to keep your marriage strong?
Image by Rodney Smith
In my limited view of marriage, I see marriage as a long road trip. Some of it is spent navigating. Some of it is boring as you pass the same scenery for miles. Some of it is scary as you go through roads that you have seen before. And every once in a while, you have to get your hands dirty changing a flat tire. But sometimes... it is awesome. Those precious moments of windows-rolled-down, hair-going-wild, radio-blaring-your-favorite-song good. Those are the moments that we all strive for in marriage. They don't happen all the time. But when they do, it is legendary.
I believe it is naive to think that the entire road trip will be good songs and good weather. But when the occasional storm or flat tire does pop up, what does a couple do to get through it? I am sure every couple handles it in a different way than the next. But I wonder if there are fundamental truths... tools that help in those situations.
I know that for me, when the marriage waters get rough, I try to think back to when I first met David and remember the things that first drew me to him. I remember thinking that he seemed like a bad boy with his tattoos and quiet ways. I thought he was so HOT with his dark eyes and salt-n-pepper hair. I kind of laugh to myself about all of this. But I think it is good for me to remember the guy that I fell in love with back in 2000 and remind myself that that version of him still exists in the man, father, husband, and best friend that stands before me today.
Now I am not saying that this is the only tool on my marriage shelf, but it is good one that I constantly go back to. So it has me wondering, what other tools are out there? What do other couples do to keep their marriage road trip on course?
Tell me - what tried and true tools do you use to keep your marriage strong?
Image by Rodney Smith
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