ABC's of a Happy Marriage

ABC’s of a Happy Marriage
By Barbara Eubanks

“Love: a temporary insanity, curable by marriage,” once quipped Ambrose Bierce. If love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, why do so may end in divorce? Even some couples who stay together seem to do nothing but make each other miserable. This was emphasized when a pastor friend rushed to the hospital to minister to a lady who had been admitted for emergency surgery. Knowing her husband was away on a business trip, the concerned pastor offered to track him down to inform him of his wife’s medical crisis.
“Oh, no, Pastor. Please don’t do that. I look forward to spending at least one peaceful night in the hospital without him.”
Although the pastor was dismayed and somewhat amused by her unusual response, he realized she had stayed in a marriage unhappily for forty years.
Falling in love, having a big wedding, going on an exotic honeymoon may all seem glamorous, but the reality is a good marriage takes work and constant commitment. The end result of unhappiness in marriage doesn’t necessarily have to be divorce. With effort, that unhappiness can be transformed into joy. If people put the energy into keeping their mates as they do in getting them, the divorce rate would drop drastically.
As Steve and I prepared to facilitate a marriage retreat, we came up with the ABC’s of marriage which have worked for us for over fifty years. Perhaps if you implement them, you will discover a renewed happiness and romance.

Affirm daily.
Bury forgiven offenses.
Care for one another in sickness and in health.
Do unto each other as you would have the other do unto you.
Encourage each other in his/her endeavors.
Face each day with a prayer and a smile.
Give generously.
Help with daily tasks (cheerfully).
Ignore minor offenses.
Join hands and hearts in making a happy home.
Keep working at it.
Love with all your heart – agape, philos, eros.
Marriage is a covenant made before God; it’s forever. Remember that daily.
Never let the sun go down upon your wrath.
Open heart and home to God.
Play and pray together.
Quit complaining.
Respect each other, both privately and publicly.
Seek to please rather than to be pleased.
Trust God and each other.
Until the twelfth of never, keep loving.
Value each other.
Worship together
X-out negativity.
Yield not to temptation.
Zealously strive to honor God in your marriage.