Mike and I were married before we even met, but not to each other.  Both of our first marriages ended within the first two years due to infidelity and abuse.  We were both the innocent victims of these divorces.

Even though we were quite young, early 20’s, we had learned valuable lessons about marriage and what doesn’t work. Once I said “yes” to Mike’s many proposals in 1968, we vowed to each other to be totally faithful and trustworthy.  Through the years we have never wavered from that promise.  Like Joseph in Genesis 39 when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, we flee when we find ourselves in a tempting situation.  

At 23 years old I remember clearly saying, “I want to grow old with Mike.” Now 42 years later we are well on our way to “growing old together”.

Growing: Due to our different upbringings and the challenges that life throws at us, we have stayed on the track of a long lasting marriage.

Old: In 2 months Mike will turn 65 and we will both be Senior Citizens officially.  When we were dating and newly married, we didn’t think we could love each other any more than that.  But now we have a much deeper love on the surface and intimately.

Together: In the rising up and the laying down of each day, we are together.  We are together for good.

I love what Jesus said in Mark 10:6-9, “But at the beginning of Creation God ‘made them male and female’.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

I remember watching my mother and father kiss when he went off to work in the morning and when he returned in the evening.  Therefore, it is important to me to kiss Mike when we say good bye in the morning, when we say hello in the evening and when we say good night.   And because it is important to me, it is important to Mike.  And I have to believe that those special daily kisses help us to stay the course.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to keep to the vows and promises we made to each other before you and our family and friends.  Help us to resist the temptations and stay true to the one we married.  Amen

Questions:

1. Who, what or where at the temptations that might cause you to become unfaithful with your spouse?
2. What sweet little things do you do everyday that tell your spouse that you still love them?