Ten Keys to Building a Strong Marriage

Summer’s almost here!

Many of you are getting married or celebrating anniversaries this summer. Here are some lessons I’ve learned over almost 57 years (yikes!) of marriage. I hope they will be helpful to you. I encourage you to make your own list. Interview 2-3 older couples with long marriages and ask them for their advice.

1. Don’t expect your mate to meet all of your needs. It’s just not possible.
2. Develop close friendships with a couple of other women who will encourage you to grow in Christ and to love your husband. (Guard against being with a group that “bashes” husbands.)
3. Flee emotional entanglements with other men—you will be tempted at the office, etc.
4. Always assume the best (instead of saying, “he hasn’t been paying attention to me, he must not love me…”).
5. Don’t expect him to respond like a woman. Let him be a man…go play with the boys.
6. Don’t be devastated by problems. They can be opportunities to grow deeper. Deal with them; don’t deny or “stuff” them.
7. View your differences as pieces of a puzzle, which have to learn to fit together, and be patient. You have a lifetime to learn how to fit.
8. Make a promise now to have a weekly single date together. Do it for the rest of your marriage.
9. Thank God every day for one of the traits that you appreciate about your husband. Do this for the rest of your marriage. (It’s the marriage vitamin.)
10. Remember, no person can love you as much as you need to be loved. Only God can. Make time daily to grow in Him.