Marriage as it is meant to be...

Over the past couple years we have been overwhelmed with the number of marriages failing around us.  It is so prevalent that we have lost count of the number of friends and relatives who seem destined for divorce.  God never meant it to be this way.  In Matthew 19:6 Jesus says about marriage, "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."  It is severely disappointing that many of these broken relationships are amongst Christians.  Are we not a special chosen people of God, the light of the world, brought out of darkness to proclaim His light to a lost and dying world (1 Peter 2:8; Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 5:8)?  Are we not to be a people zealous for good works (Titus 3:8)?  Sadly enough a good marriage in our generation is now a light to the world.  Why can't we flesh out a sacrificial love for one another when Jesus gave so much for us (Ephesians 5:25)?  Is our generation so consumed with ourselves that we cannot endure some tough times, persevere, and grow in our love for our spouse?  Were our vows just empty promises?

So this topic has been heavy on my mind over the past many weeks.  I believe Mary and I have grown closer throughout this time.  We have been encouraged to serve one another more, to love one another deeper.  We know we are just dust, we cannot trust our marriage will always be strong "just because"; we must work at it day by day, fleshing out our love, building our lives on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

This has also hit very close to home for our Elizabeth.  She has had to learn things in her early age that I wish she had never known this young.  But in her own way she is resolved to stand up for the permanence of marriage.  Tonight she wrote a sweet poem to honor God's plan of one man, one woman, for life.  Her innocence should not be thought naivety, for I believe the Lord would desire we have a simple view of marriage, a resolve that would not be torn down by the crumbling homes around us...

Marriage is like a jewel or a pearl
Marriage was designed for you to be together forever and ever.
Marriage was designed for you to love each other forever and ever.
Not for one night and then to have a fight.
Not for one year and then to tear.
Not for ten years, but forever and til death do you part.
If you had a jewel you would clean it - do that with your marriage

-- Elizabeth Marie