Building a good marriage is one of the highest goals we can aspire to which will reap rewards for ourselves, our families, and society down the generations.

Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin

It is less than a week before our son’s wedding. It’s taken so long, and it is here so fast. For our daughter’s wedding, we went to Jamaica and it was hectic before we left getting flowers, centerpieces, etc. ready. This time it is a local event so we are not as involved in preparations. We are hosting the rehearsal party at our house and we discussed who would be here and what to serve last evening,

On Saturday two friends and I got our eyebrows threaded and today we are getting manicures and pedicures. I wasn’t going to give a speech, but now I will say grace. My daughter laughs and tells me Grace (my middle name) give a good grace.

It isn’t that I didn’t want to give a speech at my son’s wedding (I’m a Toastmaster after all) but they are not having a lot of speeches and the bride’s mother isn’t giving a speech. My son-in-law said, “I would have lost that bet, I thought for sure you would give a speech.” Now I am saying grace because our dear friend whom we all knew without question would be the one to grace the table, can’t attend.

Marriage is a fundamental institution that brings stability to our lives. I don’t mean you have to get the license and have the party although I think making a statement to yourselves and the community has power. My uncle said, “I don’t need a paper pinned to my bum to know I am married.” I believe that is true, we make the commitment to someone because we’ve made the commitment, and it is making the commitment to live through the highs and lows of life together that is important. My uncle’s wife was with him to the end, sitting by his bedside in a nursing home until he took his last breath. We don’t know what challenges are in front of us but if we have a partner to go through life with I think it is easier and more fun.

Marriages, like a garden, take time to grow. But the harvest is rich unto those who patiently and tenderly care for the ground. Darlene Schacht

Statistics show marriage is an economic win for people. One of the biggest drivers of poverty is people not marrying and staying together. I watch my daughter and son-in-law with their new baby. It warms my heart to see my grandson in his father’s arms. He loves to be held by my husband. Even at this very young age, masculine energy calms him.

We build our lives by the decisions we make and a good life isn’t built all at once with one big decision and nor dare I say is a not-so-good life. If we are making decisions that move us closer to the good, our life will be quite different than if the decisions we make always make things a little worse. We won’t always make the right decision, we will have to do relationship repair, and make u-turns. It may be tempting to think sometimes it can’t get any worse than this, but that is rarely true and a few stupid decisions might show us just how bad it can get.

With gratitude for all the blessings in our lives, we see our son enter the state of matrimony with all the promise that brings. Wouldn’t it be nice if at this wedding some of the single people find a partner? Marriage is not a fairy tale, but having a partner to go through the ups and downs of life with is one of the great blessings we can aspire to.

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. Tom Mullen

Marriage is the highest state of friendship. If happy, it lessens our cares by dividing them, at the same time that it doubles our pleasures by mutual participation. Samuel Richardson

There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. Martin Luther

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you will come back and read some more. Have a blessed day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.

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