When couples decide to make a commitment to each other and to God, they often pick out wedding rings and have them engraved. One couple I know had a phrase inside that said, “Together for HIM, 1-27-62”

What did that all mean? It meant that they were committing their lives to each other and to God for His work. The groom had long wanted to preach the gospel, and his wife had long wanted to be a preacher’s wife. They each had to make some adjustments to do the work they desired to do. They knew there would be hardships, but were willing to face those together. They knew there would be criticism (They had no idea how much!), but they were willing to face that together. They knew they would live “in a glass house,” but the rewards they would reap would far outweigh the temporal sadness.

A recent article by Tom Moore brought some of these things to my mind. Tom wrote:

In the art of marriage, it is the little things that become big things:

• It’s never being too old to hold hands.
• It’s remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day.
• It’s never going to sleep angry.
• It’s having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
• It is standing together, facing the world.
• It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
• It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
• It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
• It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
• It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
• It is not only marrying the right partner, but also being the right partner.

Marriage is the most important commitment besides our original decision to become a child of God. The marriage of two Christians can be a force for God that no other force can overcome. However there will be rocks in the road—especially for the preacher and his wife. Being constantly on display like preachers’ families are is one of the biggest hurdles any couple has to deal with. They, of all people, must keep their focus on God and the rest will fall into place.

by Beth Johnson