“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
(Mark 10:9 NIV)
Yesterday, my parents celebrated 48 years of marriage. Sadly, most marriages don’t last as long these days. I believe that the reason their marriage lasted as long as it has is because my parents took their vows seriously. You know, the traditional vows that we so often quote but don’t seem to take very seriously, “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” My mother and father have been through a lot together, but never once did I hear them talk about going their separate ways, something that has become very common today.
My father is a good man, but I believe that my mother’s prayers and her humble and submissive spirit are the reason they’ve been going strong. Not many married people are willing to submit to or pray for each other, therefore failing to invest in long-lasting, healthy relationships. If anything, more couples seem to easily give up on one another when the going gets tough. In fact, most reasons for divorce are not good grounds to end a marriage. Not long ago, my friend and I were talking about how sensitive marriages have become. I liked the expression she used. She said that it’s as though we have to “tiptoe” around them. The little things seem to upset couples and they call it quits.
Jesus made it clear that God’s original plan for marriage was that it would last forever, and if more couples took time to invest in their marriage and put God first, we would see more lasting marriages.
Rising with the Son 