10 keys to a triumphant marriage

"And they lived happily ever after. The end."

Well, not quite. "Happily ever after" actually takes a lot of work. Marriage is something that needs nourishment, repairing, caring hearts and lots of love. Both partners in a marriage must be fully committed to making the marriage triumphant. Here are some secrets for marriage success.

1. Communication is key

A big part of any relationship is communication. Good communication can help couples avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. It can also help strengthen marriages. It is crucial to discuss important topics, worries, finances, stresses and big decisions. Learning good communications skills will ease some tensions that are often present in any marriage.

2. Don't use the "D-word" — Divorce

Before my husband and I got married, he made the request that we simply do not talk about divorce — especially during disagreements. It can be easy, in a heated discussion, to say things that we don't really mean. Once it is said, you can't take it back. Using "divorce" in arguments puts it "out there" as if it's an option. We choose not to have divorce as an option, but rather seek to work together to solve problems. *There may be extenuating circumstances where divorce is necessary. Use good judgment in these cases.

3. Have regular date nights — weekly, if possible

Before marriage, it seems that couples want to spend time together strengthening their relationship and getting to know each other. It is paramount that this practice of courting one another continues into marriage. People change significantly over time. If time is not spent together, married partners may wake up one day and realize they don't know their spouse very well anymore. Continuing courtship after marriage allows couples to grow together, to stay in love and to have time together without other distractions like children, work or other responsibilities.

4. Think positively about your spouse

Dwelling on any negatives about your spouse is only going to invite more negatives. These thoughts can eat at you, cause fights and undue marital stress. Try looking for the good in your spouse. Compliment him/her on the things you love instead of pointing out annoyances or faults. Focusing on the positives will allow you to see more good things about your spouse.

5. Keep intimacy going strong

Married couples need to be connected emotionally, spiritually and, yes, physically. Physical and emotional intimacy is key to a happy marriage. This includes having date nights. Find out what makes your spouse feel loved and try to "speak" that language. For some, it is physical touch. Others need time or verbal communication. Remember to allow cuddle time, kissing, hugging, touching and having sex. This will strengthen your bond as a couple in a necessary way.

6. Forgive and apologize daily

We all make mistakes or do stupid things. If we are self-aware, we can see where we have wronged others and can let go of our pride and apologize. It is also important to forgive each other. Holding on to negative feelings will only fester and damage not only ourselves, but ultimately our marriage. Forgiving and apologizing frequently will save a lot of heartache and make a better marriage. Ruth Bell Graham said, "A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers."

7. Help and support each other

Marriage is a two person team. Fight together not against each other. If one partner is struggling, the other needs to step up his game and help. You can't cross the finish line alone. It takes 100 percent effort from both team members. Supporting each other means to help around the house, with the kids and other responsibilities. Maybe there is a problem at work that can be solved with the advice of a loving spouse. As the saying goes, "two heads are better than one." Sometimes a listening ear and some comforting words go a long way.

8. You can't change your spouse, but you can change yourself

Going into a marriage thinking you can "fix" or change your spouse is just not possible. However, you can change yourself. Improving your weaknesses and becoming a better person might even inspire your spouse to do the same. Changing the way you think about your spouse may even have a great impact on her.

9. Don't flirt with danger

Whether it's pornography, "innocent" flirting or an affair, safe-guarding a marriage against temptations is necessary. Pornography is a problem that often requires professional help to overcome. Bringing it into a marriage is not a good idea. Additionally, flirting, spending time or any other activities with people of the opposite sex is definitely in the danger zone. Something seemingly innocent can quickly turn into something very inappropriate. It is best to avoid questionable situations and temptations altogether. Sexual and emotional relationships with someone other than your spouse are not OK.

10. Avoid discussing negative feelings or problems about your marriage with friends or family.

This is a temptation that is often justified by saying you just need to "vent" or talk to someone about it. The problem with this is it can often make the problem worse rather than better. Others can join in the negative talk or think less of your spouse long after the problem is solved. Communication between husband and wife is more worthwhile. For more serious problems, consider talking with a marriage counselor instead of those who are close to the situation.

Marriage can be wonderful or terrible. Either one takes work, but one leads to much happiness. "Happily ever after" is attainable through loyalty, diligence and work. Both husband and wife must fully commit to each other and the marriage. It takes two giving their all to create a lasting and beautiful marriage.

Commitment: One of the essential cornerstones of a happy marriage

Someone used to say there are two kinds of married people: those who are committed, and those who probably ought to be.

He was kidding, of course. “Commitment” is sort of the definition of marriage — or at least it used to be, before people began looking at their wedding vows the way college football coaches look at their contracts.
I recently heard a divorce attorney say on the radio that “no one goes into a marriage thinking it will end.” Maybe not — but a lot of people go into marriage thinking it COULD end, if “things don’t work out.”
And therein lies the problem: If you start with the assumption that marriage is impermanent, it’s very likely to be.
Why do so many people start with that assumption? Because they look around and see that it’s so. Half the people they know are divorced — including, in many cases, their own parents. So what’s the big deal?
I’ll leave you to decide if you think it’s a big deal. But let’s assume you do, since you’re reading this column. If you truly want to have a long and happy marriage, you must put out of your mind the idea that you can always walk away.
You can’t. That’s what “commitment” means.
A good friend of mine was once asked by his wife that immortal question, “Why do you love me?” He replied, “Because I choose to.”
At first, she wasn’t exactly thrilled with that answer. She wanted him to say something more romantic, about how beautiful and wonderful she is. But eventually she came to see that he was exactly right. Marriage is ultimately about choosing each other — not just on the day you get engaged or the day you say your vows, but every single day for the rest of your lives.
Even days you don’t feel like it. Especially days you don’t feel like it.
Note that I used the word “love” in my anecdote about commitment. That’s because, when it comes to marriage, love and commitment are essentially the same thing.
The classic mistake young people (and sometimes older people) make when they first get married is assuming the feelings of strong affection and sexual desire they have for each other on that day — in other words, what we normally call “love” — will remain unchanged throughout their lives.
People who have been married a long time, however, know that such feelings tend to ebb and flow and thus form a poor basis for a lasting marriage. They also understand that you’re more likely to still feel those emotions, years into the marriage, if you continue to choose each other even on days when you don’t feel them.
In other words, most people believe that commitment follows love. But one of the secrets to a long and happy marriage is understanding that, in reality, true love follows undying commitment.

Can an Adulterous Spouse Truly Be Forgiven?

Adultery is a sin that causes a huge amount of destruction in the family. The person who was betrayed endures intense emotional pain. The unfaithful person experiences guilt and shame. Children suffer confusion and the loss of family stability.

God understands the severity of the consequences of adultery so much that it is dealt with in the Ten Commandments: "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14 KJV).

Once the damage is done to the marriage, the only way that complete restoration can take place is if the betrayer repents not only from the adultery, but also from the accompanying sins. Many other sins come along with adultery, such as coveting, deceit, and pride.

Adultery also includes five of the seven things that the Lord hates according to Proverbs: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV).

Adultery involves a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and sowing discord among people. When committing adultery, one must consistently lie about his or her whereabouts, plan secret meetings, go to those meetings, and the result is discord and strife among every person affected.

Once the adulterer begins to tell lies, this leads to more and more lies as the deception continues and the chasm between husband and wife grows wider. What a dangerous trap! "A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful" (Proverbs 23:27-28).

The resulting trauma that the unfaithful person puts their spouse through is indescribable. In the aftermath, what is the best way for the loyal spouse to respond? The Bible is our guide for living, and it is the ultimate resource for how to respond to the inevitable trials and tribulations of life.

"Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32 NLT). "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God" (Ephesians 5:2 NLT).

The Bible instructs us to be kind to each other, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to live a life filled with love. That is much easier said than done when you have been deeply hurt by someone you love. The abandoned spouse did nothing wrong and did not ask to be put in this situation of immense pain; yet he or she is there because of the actions of two other people.  

What is the right thing to do? It hardly seems fair that the betrayed spouse be given the burden of extending forgiveness and love to the one who has broken trust. But God's ways are not our ways, and God's thoughts are not our thoughts. Although in our limited human understanding it may seem unfair that the betrayed spouse should extend forgiveness and love to the person who walked out on the relationship, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12 KJV). "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death" (Proverbs 16:25 NLT). Lack of forgiveness is detrimental to the betrayed person's health. It is spiritual poison that will eventually lead to spiritual death.

The Bible instructs us to forgive and to pray for our enemies. Forgiveness is not for the benefit of our enemies, but for our benefit. Forgiveness does not condone what was done. Forgiveness severs the link of control between the betrayer and the betrayed. Forgiveness does not mean that the unfaithful spouse will not have consequences for the offense. The consequences will come. Forgiveness is the betrayed person's way of leaving the consequences in the hands of God and allowing God to heal the forsaken person's heart.

Some have said that forgiveness is not necessary and that acceptance is good enough. Acceptance means you accept the facts that you were betrayed and cannot change the past. However, if one does not take the extra step of forgiveness, he or she may still suffer from a negative mental and emotional condition.

I understand that forgiveness is not easy. I have been hurt deeply by the man who I loved for 23 years. I could have chosen to just accept that I was betrayed and attempt to move on with my life. However, I would still have unforgiveness in my spirit that would take root and result in bitterness.

Unforgiveness has many negative consequences for the one who was abandoned. Unforgiveness allows the betrayer to continue to invade their mind and heart and hinder the healing process. The negative emotional and mental condition of the wounded person may appear to be resolved, but the bitterness and negativity will always creep back into the picture and block the complete healing that the Lord has for that person.

The Bible instructs us to forgive, not to merely accept. The benefit of forgiveness is not for the other person. It is for the one who was betrayed. Forgiveness takes place inside. It is not necessary for you to have the forgiven person involved in your life.

Forgiveness means that, in your heart, you release the other person to God. It means that deep inside of you, there are no hard feelings and you choose to wish the person well. You are not allowing that person to invade your mind and to generate feelings of hate. You are not drinking the poison of unforgiveness but rather choosing to allow God to completely heal your heart with no trace of bitterness.

Forgiveness is the last thing that we feel like doing when we are in so much pain. However, if we will just make the choice to forgive in obedience to God, He will give us the ability to truly forgive and heal completely so that we will not suffer any more negativity in our spirit. As a result, we set an example for our children, encouraging them to give up anger and bitterness. This restores peace and stability in the home.

Even though adultery causes so much destruction, it is possible, and even necessary, to truly forgive in order to prevent the situation from causing further destruction in our homes. The spouse responsible, however, must truly be repentant of his or her actions so that it does not happen again Jaylin Palacio  

Are you or someone you know facing the aftermath of adultery? People will betray us, but God will never leave us nor forsake us. He gives us the ability to truly forgive and be set free from the pain of betrayal.

3 ways to have faith in your marriage and avoid divorce

Marriage is a wonderful, but often challenging undertaking. Here are three ways to combine faith in yourself, your marriage and your higher power to strengthen your relationship and avoid divorce.

Marriage is so much more than a license, a ceremony and a promise made with symbolic jewelry. Marriage is the spiritual union of two souls who have been guided to each other to serve the highest good and create a spiritual family. The exchange of vows is a sacred rite of passage whose true meaning has escaped so many. When the ideals and fantasy of what you think marriage should be and feel like begin to fade, and the realities of responsibility set in, your emotional and spiritual health may take a back seat. And divorce may seem an attractive option to stop the fights and end the suffering.

If your marriage is in trouble, and you’re starting to doubt the decisions you’ve made, take a step back and take a breath. Close your eyes and remember that there is always somewhere to turn when you feel you’ve lost your way. Remember your faith, in any form it comes. Faith will give you strength and clarity and help you change your mind, body and spirit to one that attracts the experience you want.
So how do you find the faith to keep your marriage strong? Here are three ways:

Believe in each other

Finding faith in a partner who has let you down can be painful and difficult. You two may spend so much of your energy trying to fix each other that you forget to believe and trust in each other. But how can you trust someone who doesn’t seem to be changing for the better, or putting in the work to make the relationship work?
Believe that your spouse can be different, whether you see the changes or not. Instead of focusing on the missteps of the past, or the frustration of the present, believe that your spouse has the ability to be everything he or she strives to be. And this is the key. Believe that your spouse can uphold his or her own standards, or the standards of a higher power, not just yours. No two people are the same. And even a same-faith union does not mean you and your spouse share identical values or principles in every aspect. Nor would those same ideals manifest in identical ways. Find out exactly what your partner thinks and feels about all aspects of marriage, its meaning and its manifestations. Then believe that it will all happen. And in the meantime, do this same thing for yourself.

Believe in your marriage

Your marriage is an ordained expression of the lessons of your spiritual system. You and your spouse were brought together to achieve something momentous, and this was not done lightly or in vain. The entity that you, your spouse and your higher power created is larger than the two of you; more than the sum of its parts. But with great power comes great responsibility. Upholding your spiritual tenants in the face of everyday adversity becomes paramount in raising your family in the grace and omnipresence of your higher power. Keeping your faith means looking beyond the temporary, the mundane and the obstacles in your physical and spiritual success. Believe in your marriage as you believe in your higher power and its plans for both of you. Find or rediscover the purpose you two are meant to fulfill together, and model that for your children. Teach them to search for the meaning in life’s difficulties, and the divine in their marriages.

Believe in your path

Your marriage is a milestone on your lifelong journey to ultimate happiness and peace. In matrimony, your road has merged with the road of another, and you are sharing this sacred space as a part of both of your journeys. Marriage is an intersection that you can barrel through, missing the signals and likely causing a collision. Or you can slow down and usher the other passengers to their destinations — your spouse and children. Your path took the twists and turns it was meant to, even when you found yourself feeling lost and unguided. You may not have the map, but the right road is the road you’re on, and you and your spouse are travelling in the same direction. Travel together. You may need to breathe some fresh air at a rest stop, but use that time to recharge, regroup and reunite with yourself, your spouse, and your higher power. You and your life mate crossed paths as a way to guide you both home. See your marriage as a vehicle that was created to help you become your true self, and find your inner power, strength and love.
My parents, throughout their 30-year marriage, were excellent role models in teaching me how to choose a good mate, and how to traverse life’s bumpy roads while staying connected. Marriage is not without its hardships, the belief that together they can get through anything teaches me in many ways how I wish to manifest this leg of my journey.
The key to keeping faith and avoiding divorce is not to avoid divorce; it is to thrive in marriage. Really be as fully invested in your marriage as you are in your faith. Believe in it. Trust in it. Know it will guide you and protect you. Remind yourself of how far you’ve come, and how much you’ve already overcome. Look forward to how far there is to go, and how much more there is to experience. And consider how you got here, and why you came in the first place. Then let go, and let faith guide the rest of your journey through marriage, family and life.


What are your thoughts on these? Do you disagree? Do you know any other attributes of building a marriage strong that should have made the list? Leave a comment below:) Stay blessed!