I am often in awe and humbled by the knowledge that this man will be my partner and other half for the rest of our lives. 20 years in and I’m still thrilled to wake up next to him every morning and get giddy with excitement when I think about alI that we still get to experience together.
I thank God all the time for the life He’s blessed us with, for a marriage that has surpassed my expectations, and an amazing husband who can’t get enough of me. I never ever have to worry about where I stand with Duane because I know that to him I’m the most important person, the most beautiful woman, his best friend, his most trusted advisor, his life partner, and his completer. There’s no one on the planet that he’d rather be with.
If this sounds too good to be true, I promise you that it’s not. If two very flawed individuals can have what we have, so can other married couples.
So what’s our secret?
1. WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT. We were saved by the blood of Jesus and rely on God’s grace every single day.
2. WE LOVE JESUS. The very foundation of our lives, marriage, and family is built on Jesus…and nothing less. We are in the Word daily and pray daily.
3. HE’S GOD’S GIFT TO ME. We recognize that we are a gift from God to each other and CHOOSE to receive each other every day.
4. HE’S THE ONE. We celebrate that we became each other’s “THE ONE” or “soulmate” once we got married. There is no one else out there for us.
5. WE HAVE A COMMON ENEMY. We stay very much aware that our common enemy is satan and not each other. We must always be on our guard for his schemes and be armed with the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:11
6. WE TRY TO SEE THE GOOD IN ONE ANOTHER. We call it “seeing each other the way God sees us.”
7. WE STAY CONNECTED. We check in to talk about our relationship and each other’s needs often. Businesses do it daily to ensure they’re staying healthy so why shouldn’t we?
8. WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND TRY TO FORGIVE QUICKLY. Staying angry for too long can lead to resentment which can then lead to isolation. We try to avoid being isolated as much as possible because that’s where we become vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.
9. WE ARE A TEAM. There’s no such thing as an issue that we deal with alone. We work on issues (even personal ones) together and bring them to God together.
10. WE MAKE PHYSICAL INTIMACY A PRIORITY. Sex is vital in a healthy, thriving marriage. Not only does it lead to oneness, but it also helps maintain the “fun” in the relationship.
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