Later it occurred to me why mid life might be make it or break it time for a marriage. At midlife your still raising kids (probably hormonal teens), caring for aging parents, and maybe reflecting on a career change . After all you only have half your life left and you want to make the last half count . And this crazy life just is NOT what you EXPECTED when you said "I do ".
Expectation... Expectation is the root of all heart ache. How many expected the day you walked in white dress and veiled face down the aisle that marriage would be roses , champagne, vacations? A Disney princess fairytale that our culture has fed nearly all girls ! Reality check! Marriage is compromise, compassion, communication, forgiveness, and hard work!
After conversations at bible study this week on being content in our roles/relationships and having several women pose the question what should I be looking for ?( in a mate). I was struck that the answer was staring back at us in our memory verse....
"the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28
If you are searching for a mate, someone you can live WITH, well my friend you are searching for love in all the wrong places!!! Search for a servant; for someone who at their core desires to live out the gospel, do kingdom work , and be a kingdom changer . Look for a ministry partner. Life is not vacations and anniversaries! Real life is washing clothes, emptying the dishwasher, cooking supper, changing diapers, walking the dog, being in grief together, and figuring out how to navigate the pregnancy of your teenage daughter . Real life is hard, raw and messy! Marriage is real life not a Disney princess fairytale . Real life is a roller coaster that can leave you feeling battered and broken. Marriage is finding someone you can enjoy the dailies with and learning to be " broken together".
Broken Together: Casting Crowns
Tell Your Heart to Beat Again: Danny Gokey
