NEVER LET IT END!
Milton and I are blessed. We have marriage mentors in our parents. Milton's parents have been married almost 60 years, and my parents were married 67 years. If you don't have longevity of marriage in your family members, follow ours--a takeoff of what the Apostle Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Use them as an example. Or, use people you know with longevity in marriage, whether you've been married two months, or two years, or two decades, or whether this is your first marriage or your fourth.
The earnest prayer of my heart concerning my marriage is found in yet another of Ruth Bell (Mrs. Billy) Graham's prayer-poems, below. I hope this is the prayer of your heart, too, for your marriage.
When you first start reading it, you might be thinking, My marriage doesn't have "growing loveliness" and all of her other flowery words. I'll be the first to admit that marriage is hard. You put two people together with two entirely different personalities who've been raised two different ways, and you plop them down together in a house and say, "You're now married. Get along. For better or worse." And then you add in the mix of spouses with life-controlling problems and maybe anger and some stubbornness here or there and some insensitivity and maybe some harshness.
And I don't have any pat answers, except to advise two things: 1) read Christian marriage books to learn things about coping and compromising (isn't that what marriage is all about?); and 2) cry out to God to help you, comfort you, strengthen you.
And then, when you feel a snatch of "growing loveliness" every now and then, reach out and hug it to you, and let it sustain you in the hard times.
Oh, God, give me some more "growing loveliness" in my marriage. And when my husband looks at me, please let him see some "growing loveliness" in me. Please make/keep our love strong and vibrant and true--for one purpose only: to serve You and be a blessing to the people around us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
"Never Let It End"
By Ruth Bell (Mrs. Billy) Graham
Never let it end, God,
never--please--
all this growing loveliness,
all of these
brief moments of
fresh pleasure--
never let it end.
Let us always
be a little breathless
at love's beauty;
never let us
pause to reason
from a sense of duty;
never let us
stop to measure
just how much to give;
never let us
stoop to weigh love;
let us live--
and live!
Please, God,
let our hearts kneel always,
Love their only master,
knowing the warm impulsiveness
of shattered alabaster;
I know You can see things
the way a new bride sees,
so
never let it end, God,
never—please.
posted by Kristy Dykes @ 6:30 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
From someone who fell in love at 12 and has been gazing into the same dove-gray eyes ever since, I appreciate this post. (Don't worry, we waited until I was 20 to get married!) Not every day, but most days, I'm "breathless with the beauty of love." Thanks for the reminder.
We've been married 36 years this December. What so many people seem to forget is that marriage is a committment. You won't always "feel" in love. There are times when you don't much care any more. What I found is that God will rekindle the fires of love if you're committed and you ask Him to. I know. :o)
"Grow old with me, the best is yet to come." I've always loved that and it's so true. The friendship of spending so many years together, coupled with the love factor, makes for some really FUN in your "senior" years.
Of course, I haven't reached the senior years, yet. I'm still a Junior. ;o)
You know, in my generation, divorce is such the common trend. I'm so proud to say I'm still madly in love with my husband of 17 years. Love him more now than the day I said "I do". I wish more people would realize everything is a choice, and you CHOOSE to stay committed to your marriage.
You've all said words of wisdom. Wow. Thanks for these pearls.
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