Anniversary

Today, I humbly announce that with my wife, we've crossed our 26 years together.  We've gone through not only narrow and winding roads, but mountains and valleys together.  No doubt the paths we've ridden were not always rosy nor sunny but the trials and tribulations have served to deepen the bond for each others and towards God.

If we accept that we're all human beings, and that all human beings are born imperfect, then we have to nurture self-acceptance and forgiveness.  No holding grudges, no hurt feelings, no looking back, but just keep moving forward.

The important key to our marriage is love for God and love for one another.

Love for God - the marriage must be God-centered

1 John 4:8  "But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

God is the Source of true love so all couples are pointed back to the Creator and Maintainer of marriage.

Love for one another - 

John 13:34   “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

The secret recipe of our marriage is a truckload of commitment, trust, respect and compromise.   All good relationships are based on trust and loyalty - both rare commodities. Just like our heart, the strength of a marriage can be determined by a stress test; this starts off slowly, then it gets faster and faster over time.  And depending on your level of endurance, some will make it to a higher level, while some will give up mid-way.

Endurance is the key to remain happily married.  Some say marriage kills romance.  I say it's easy to fall in love, but it's tough to be in love.  Falling in love is just a one-off affair, whilst being in love is present, constant and continuous.  The same applies to "loving" a person or "being in love" with a person.  Two different states of mind.  You've got to work at keeping the flame burning every single day.

When we met, we were serving in the church, in our own ministry, with no fine wrinkles and no knee problems.  Now two children later, we patiently accept the appearance of love handles, platinum hair and the extra pair of eyes. 

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON;

IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.