Commitment is turning into a four-letter word. Marriage and divorce rates are equal. The divorce rate within the church is the same as those outside the church. What has happened to marriage? More and more I see those who have been married for 20 plus years getting a divorce. What happens to a marriage that has made it through the hard fundamental years only to fall apart later? Marriage is an ever-changing working relationship that must grow in order for there to be enduring tranquility and contentment. There is never a time in which one can say, “I have made it now I don’t have to try.” Marriage between two people is a shadow of Gods commitment to His children. Through Christ we have an eternal covenant of marriage with God. His covenant to us is to sojourn with us through it all; it is our job to show the world His untiring affection for us through marriage. He wants to show His love to us through commitment of marriage. Both relationships are constantly in need of growth. It is up to us to build dedication to the covenant of marriage. Doing this allows us to experience God’s devotion of redeeming love. Below I have listed some ways to keep a marriage growing. Try some or all to see if you can improve and cause growth within your relationships. Some of these tools will help you in every relationship you have. Try these suggestions and catch a glimpse of what joy can come from growth.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

(Jn 13:34-35 New Living)

Love is a decision; yet in today’s society we tend to make it all about sex and emotions. Twenty years of marriage goes by then suddenly you aren’t “in love” anymore. Life long friends and neighbors suddenly don’t speak anymore. Then there are those people that are just too toxic to love or are just down right unlovable. Then there are those who seem to “love”  but enable another person to stay stuck in their dysfunction. People confuse this enabling kind of love with what is really based out of fear and selfishness. We don’t like how we feel when someone we love has to face consequences, so we intrude upon their situation to keep us from having to feel the pain of their consequences. Loving someone also means letting others at times experience consequences for their actions, even if it is uncomfortable for us.