Consider with me the subject of marriage.
A lady wanted to marry four different men in her lifetime. She said each one would help her with the four things she needed most. First, she wanted to marry a banker. Second, a movie star. Next, a clergyman. And finally, a funeral director. When asked why, she answered, "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go!"
Some wag said,
"every man needs a wife, because many things go wrong he can't blame on the government." And someone else said, "Marriage entitles women to the protection of strong men who steady the ladder when they are painting the ceiling."
On a more serious note:
Marriage! It's rough. It's tough. It's work. Anybody who says it isn't has never been married. Marriage has far bigger problems than toothpaste squeezed from the middle of the tube.
Marriage means... Grappling, aching, struggling. It means putting up with personality weaknesses, accepting criticism and giving each other freedom to fail. It means sharing deep feelings about fear and rejection. It means turning self-pity into laughter and taking a walk to gain control.
Marriage means... Gentleness and joy, toughness and fortitude, fairness and forgiveness, and a walloping amount of sacrifice.
Marriage means... Learning when to say nothing, when to keep talking, when to push a little, when to back off.. It means acknowledging "I can't be God to you--I need Him, too."
Marriage means... You are the other part of me. I am the other part of you. We'll work through with never a thought of walking out.
Marriage means... Two imperfect mates building permanently, giving totally in partnership with a perfect God.
Marriage, my love, means us! Ruth Harms Calkin.
"Marriage is the art of two incompatible people learning to live compatibly." From our experience, that happens when we include God as a third party of our lives, and incorporate His written instructions for us. I am painfully aware that some may not be in that kind of marriage relationship, but to you who are, I encourage you to make your marriage far more than mediocre, (with the Lords help.) It works!!
Come learn with us.
Pastor John Giesbrecht
