He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favour from the Lord.
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Houses and wealth are inherited from parents
but a prudent wife is from the Lord (19:14) Proverbs18:22
Marriage: To have a spouse is not a right, but a privilege. To be able to share our lives with someone else - especially if that someone else is working faithfully at the marriage - is a blessing that we should not ignore.
Taking one another for granted is a definite marriage-killer. When couples are not proud of their partners and thankful for their contributions then the lie of discontentment quickly steps in.
A happy marriage is something to be really thankful for. Sometimes the routine of work, children, and timetables blinds us to the fact that two totally unique individuals have put their lives together and, in spite of all the potential pitfalls, it is working!!!
Can I urge you to thank God for your spouse and to take the time to express your appreciation to them for what they mean to you? Even if things are in a bit of a rut, it is still better than being alone, or in an unhappy marriage. If you are married, your challenge for the day is to buy some flowers or biltong for your spouse and say: "You're doing a great job - I'm proud of you - and I'm very grateful that you're in my life."
If you are not married yet, remind yourself that marriage is a privilege, and wait patiently: God has a great plan for you! Maybe you have a friend who is taking his/her spouse for granted - help them see the bigger picture!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
