The story is told of an older woman who was celebrating her golden wedding anniversary. Someone asked what her secret was to a long and happy marriage. She said, “On my wedding day, I decided to make a list of ten of my husband’s faults, which I would overlook for the sake of our marriage.”
A young bride asked her what they were. The older lady replied, “To tell you the truth, I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, ‘Lucky for him that’s one of the ten’!”
I doubt any of us made a list like this on our wedding day—though it probably wouldn’t have been a bad idea! So here is another list, instead: ten secrets to achieving lasting love.
1. Be loving and tenderhearted.
2. Be forgiving.
3. Never consider divorce as an option—seek counsel!
4. Stop all criticism.
5. Start communicating.
6. Do not compare.
7. Do something every day to please your mate.
8. Trust your mate (even if he is wrong, you are right in trusting.)
9. Always look for ways to improve as a wife.
10. Pray together.
February is here, which means love is in the air! And, I hope you are planning to take the opportunity this season affords to shower your family with love. But, will your love for your husband last long after February 14th has passed? Will your demonstrations of love fade along with this season?
Determine now to seek God’s help and claim His promises, so that you can enjoy a marriage characterized by love that will last for a lifetime. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
