Marriage Takes Time

Since hubby and I will be celebrating our 5th year together as husband and wife in a few more days from now, I thought of sharing this email that was forwarded to me by a dear friend. You will truly learn from it. I did.

And yes marriage takes time, it is but hardwork and could be tested by time .

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.–Psalm 46:10

Some days I think men, especially, inherit a double dose of impatience. That could explain why so many of us despise shopping and mutter when the driver in front of us balks at turning right on red. More than once, my wife, Debi, has said, “Sometimes I just don’t understand you at all!” Well, I haven’t completely figured her out, either. After more than 20 years of marriage, we need to learn so much more about living and loving as husband and wife. And it takes time.

But why is that so exasperating? My guess is it’s part of human nature. A congenital hurry-bone of contention inherited from Adam and Eve, who started the whole business by eating an apple guaranteed to give them instant knowledge.

When we live by the false “faster is better” creed, we lose sight of the contrasting truth: Relationships take lots of time to develop and nurture. They demand long hours and years and even decades of work. But when you stop to consider the alternative, it’s clear that marriage is worth the time. Why hurry to divorce court when you can take your time and nurture a deep commitment for the rest of your life?

–Gregg Lewis in The Couples’ Devotional Bible (Zondervan)