Have you noticed that things don’t last these days? Like the older generation might tell you, they just don’t make stuff like they used to. We’ve become a throw-away culture in too many ways, and unfortunately, that mindset has bled into our relationships and marriages. It’s becoming increasingly hard to find marriages that last! But like many things in life, marriages don’t succeed by accident, and they require consistent investment in order to last a lifetime.
Invest your time.
The best investments you can make are rarely get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, true investing is putting in those small amounts, again and again, over a long period of time. For Joe and me, it's our habit of sharing a cup of coffee together every morning. That 15-20 minutes every day has been central to keeping our connection strong. There’s no better way to spell love than T-I-M-E.
Sometimes your marriage needs big investments of time as well. Give your marriage some TLC and extra pampering when you can! Go away for that weekend together. Or maybe that means starting counseling or attending a marriage group at your church. Those are big investments now, but they often can pay back big in the long run.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Keep up with repairs.
As any homeowner knows, part of protecting your home investment is keeping up with the myriad of things that break. In our home, our saying is, it’s always something!! Nothing will last very long when it’s broken.
Joe and Tara Buchanan have been married for 23 years and have four children. They have a passion for building strong marriages, and they share more of their story on their blog, Behind Our Smiles.
In our marriage, that looks like not letting resentment grow when hurts and misunderstandings happen. Working on your communication, learning to apologize, and forgiving regularly is so important! Most relational repairs are easy to fix if they are caught right away and not swept under the rug for 20 years. If the repairs are too much for you to fix on your own, seek pastoral or professional help.
Pick the best co-investor.
Successful investments are often dependent on who you are partnering with. Your marriage is way more likely to last when you have Christ at the center! Who better to have on your team if you want your marriage to win? The more that we have the love of God in our hearts, the more that love spills onto those around us!
We love, because He first loved us. I John 4:19
Is there a couple whose marriage you want to publicly celebrate? You can share about them here.
Also, if you're looking for a special way to celebrate your marriage or one of someone you love, consider giving to WCIC at the Dedicate-a-Day level ($100/mo). WCIC will honor that couple by having their names and a special message mentioned by the on-air staff every hour on the day of your choosing.