Marriage: To Have and To Hold

     It's official.  The extravagant and beautiful marriage ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton has concluded, and they are now known to the world as man and wife.

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Congratulations,
Prince William and Kate!

     Like every marriage ceremony I've viewed, regardless of how simple or how exotic, I find myself praying for the couple as they recite their vows, much as I hoped some loved ones were praying for my husband and I almost 17 years ago on our wedding day. 

     If someone asked me - out of the blue - if I was happily married, I would resoundingly say, "Yes!"  Am I always happy with every part of my marriage, my spouse, my life?  I hope not.  If I was happy with every part of my marriage, this would mean that there was nothing that needed improvement.  We would truly have a "perfect" marriage, which would mean that we both would be "perfect" people.  And, we'd be in heaven.

     Don't worry. 

        We're not. 

        And those of you who know us well would agree.  We both need the Lord every second of the day to be who we already are and who we would like to be in the future.

     I'm not perfect, nor is my husband, Elmer.  Our daughters recognize that when we carelessly speak impolitely to each other occasionally.  They notice when we don't always listen closely to each other, or when we don't always support the other's decision.

     But am I happily married? 

     Definitely - YES!

     I didn't need to marry a royal prince to bring happiness and joy to my life.  I waited a bit longer than most of my friends to marry.  I was fussy - I wasn't going to settle for any ol' guy who came my way.  My husband, Elmer, is my prince.  And my spiritual leader, and an excellent father to our children. I'm so thankful that I waited for God's best for me.

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     The wedding ceremony, and even the many months of planning that come with it, is the easy part about being married.  The hard part is sticking to your vows, being whom God wants you to be, and learning to live every moment of the day in a respectful attitude toward your spouse.

     My prayer for Prince William and his new bride, Catherine, is that they will begin to seek the Lord for His will for their marriage.  I pray that they will ask themselves, "How can I best serve my spouse to benefit him/her and not just myself?"

     I pray that they will forego selfishness and instead introduce selflessness into their relationship.

     Is it easy?  No!  But with the Lord's help, the person to whom you are married is the perfect person for you, and your marriage can soar to great heights if you are willing to live out your marriage using God's ways.

        I wish I could send Prince William and Catherine a copy of the bundle of marriage materials I have been able to read through and contemplate during the month of May.  The insights I've gained from the eBooks, articles, and MP3 audios have been far greater than I even have time to share here.

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"Marriage:  To Have and To Hold" bundle

     As a member of The Gabby Moms, I received this beautiful package in time for spring and its accompanying romance and marriage that we often see this time of year.  Lorrie Flem has gathered up some of her best eBooks, articles, and audios about marriage and is now offering them in a special package of godly, biblical wisdom and insight about marriage.  Whether you would call yourself "happy" with your marriage, or feeling like you want to throw in the towel, there is something here for every woman.  I was blessed and encouraged to see all of the incredible suggestions, ideas, and tips for living with our spouses in a godly yet practical manner.

"Marriage:  To Have and To Hold" includes:

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Audios:

• One Life to Live, One Man to Love
• Godly Womanhood - the 5 R's ~ Rekindle

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E-Books:

• Marriage Tidbits to Treasure
• Roadmap to a Marvelous Marriage  
• Loving Your Knight in Shining Armor, Even When He Doesn't Shine

• Marriage Report
• Quotes Not Quibbles

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E-Booklets:

• 31 Daily Biblical Prayers for Wives to Pray For Their Husbands
  
• Encouragement Report
• SHMILY (Making Marriage Fun)

• What God Says About Marriage
• 75 Inexpensive Romantic Rut Cures
• The Right One/Don't Settle

• It Happened One Afternoon

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E-Magazines:

• Loving Your Husband
• Marriages Made Marvelous

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     Any marriage, royal or not, will benefit from the wisdom and insight found in Marriage:  To Have and To Hold.   I wish I could have the opportunity to share this with many of my friends!  If you'd like to take a closer look at this wonderful marriage package, you'll find it at the Eternal Encouragement Shop, in both electronic and hard copy formats.

     You can also find 19 other "bundles" of wisdom in their shop.  I've truly been encouraged and strengthened in my faith and in my relationships by being able to read and use numerous products from their shop this school year.  I know you will be, too! 

       And for Prince William and Catherine, I will continue to pray that your marriage will be greatly blessed by God and that you will seek His will for your lives, as we all need to be doing, day by day. 

     Thank you, Eternal Encouragement magazine (formerly TEACH magazine), for making available some excellent tools and advice for couples who want to see their marriages thrive, not just survive. 

     What new insights about your marriage and relationships have you gained in the last twelve months?  Leave me a comment! 

Disclaimer:  I am reviewing Marriage: To Have and To Hold as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine.  I did not receive compensation for this post, and all opinions are solely my own.

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