(Our honeymoon on an island resort just off the coast of Samana, Dominican Republic)
I could write a book or better yet start another blog on the difficulties my new husband and I had when we began living together. Our relationship wasn't perfect when we were dating and marriage only amplified the problems in our relationship. As the bible says, marriage is meant to purify you and make you more Christ like.
"In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands [respect]. Then even if some refuse to obey the Word [the Bible], your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weather than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life [conversion]. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1Peter 3:1,2, & 7
"In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands [respect]. Then even if some refuse to obey the Word [the Bible], your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weather than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life [conversion]. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1Peter 3:1,2, & 7
Our pride, anger, disrespect and miscommunication brought us great pain in the first three months. As we settled into our apartment and ran our first errands, we would hear sermons on marriage over and over trying to bring some light and peace to our union. We listend to Pastor Eduardo Saladin's series on marriage http://ibsj.org/recursos/predicacion/mensajes/serie/como-luce-el-amor.html and Pastor Mark Driscol's series/book on marriage that came out around the same time http://marshill.com/media/real-marriage.
Even with all these blessings of advice, solid biblical preaching and information; we still needed the following of our local pastor and sessions with my mother-in-law and several family members. We also finished reading all the books on marriage that we began to read during our engagement:
The only peace I had at times was knowing that my husband loved me and most importantly: that God himself had destined him to be my husband! For over twenty years we lived an ocean apart and I didn't meet him until years after I moved into the same city. It wasn't a conscience that my ex boyfriend introduced us or that my husband's baby sister was best friends at that time with my cousin. The Lord worked in my heart preparing and strengthening me to enter a chaotic dating relationship with him; and it was our faith and love of Jesus that preserved our relationship up to now!
Talking to open older couples with solid marriages and other newlyweds like us helped us realize that we are normal! Marriage is just a lot of work and you must wake up every morning determined to do your part, hold your tongue and pray for your spouse!
The song "God Gave Me You," by Blake Shelton gave me great comfort and hope too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCf2PoTuh4Q
Talking to open older couples with solid marriages and other newlyweds like us helped us realize that we are normal! Marriage is just a lot of work and you must wake up every morning determined to do your part, hold your tongue and pray for your spouse!
The song "God Gave Me You," by Blake Shelton gave me great comfort and hope too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCf2PoTuh4Q
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