is all about loving and serving our spouse. From the day we were married, we fell into the traditional kind of marriage. My husband worked to provide and support our growing family. I was a stay at home mom, who wore many different hats at various times during the day. At one moment, I was a cook to make dinner for my family, then a taxi driver, as I drove each child to their different activities, then a referee, when arguments would arise between the kids, a maid when it was time to clean the house, and a teacher when my kids needed help with their homework or on Sunday to fulfill my church responsibilities. Usually the jobs inside of the house were all mine, and the jobs outside of the house were his. In any event, we worked together and raised our kids in the gospel and did the best we could. I have always tried to go out of my way to serve and love and support my husband no matter what he was doing, or what he was involved in. While the kids were young, he worked full time and did night classes to get his master’s degree. Now, many years later, our lives have changed yet again. Now I am going to school and working, and he is working and helping do many of the household jobs that I once did all the time. To me this is selfless love. He doesn’t complain, but goes forward and serves and supports me in this new adventure of school to finish my Bachelor’s degree.
H. Wallace Goddard (2009), stated, “Marriage provides glorious opportunities to practice consecration. Just as Isaac was willing to give his life as the ultimate expression of commitment to God, so we are invited to dedicate our lives, our talents, our weekends, and our weaknesses to the sacred enterprise of sanctifying our marriages and ultimately perfecting our souls.”
Does this mean we have the perfect marriage?
Unfortunately, no, we do not have the perfect marriage. We still have trials or challenges. We have just learned how to respond to and help one another. John M. Gottman and Nan Silver (2015) tells us, “when a husband and wife respect each other and are open to each other’s point of view, they have a good basis for resolving any differences that arise.” If we can learn to listen and communicate our true feelings back, without using harsh words or tones, we can learn to appreciate each other more. Goddard also, makes this comment, “I suspect that God designed consecration to move us from peevish, self-serving humanness to sweet, redemptive godliness.” We are in this relationship for a reason. We fell in love with our spouse and wanted to be with each other for eternity. I love how Goddard asks, “Are you willing to invest your whole soul in the hope that you will gain eternal joy.”
Consecration is a Covenant
Goddard said, “Consecration is a covenant that moves us from asking how we can get our needs met to asking how we can bless and serve. We become more grateful. Rather than wondering if this marriage is a good investment that will pay us a handsome return, we ask for heavenly grace that we may love and serve as Jesus served-without thought of reward.” If we humble ourselves to give our very best, we will be blessed beyond measure.
References:
Goddard, H. W. (2009) Drawing Heaven Into Your Marriage. (p 99-112) Retrieved from: https://content.byui.edu/file/821fd904-e409-49a9-b078-7fff99c33387/1/Drawing%20Heaven%20into%20Your%20Marriage.pdf
Gottman, J. M. and Silver, N. (2015) The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. (2nd ed.) (p 160). New York: Harmony Books.
Up, Up and Beyond 