When my children ask me what I liked most about their dad when we met, I often tell them he always made me laugh. Little did I know that this happens to be a secret aid toward marriage longevity, at least, according to six couples whose combined lengths of marriage amounts to more than 350 years!
The couples were interviewed on TV to share their thoughts on how they’ve all managed to keep their relationships going when so many other spouses in the world wind up in divorce courts. The interviewees all agreed that sharing laughter and good humor helps keep a marriage strong.
It’s also apparently very important to regularly discuss finances, namely, to be sure both spouses agree on how money is being spent. A good dose of love and patience thrown into the mix never hurt anyone either, so they say.
When it comes to family life, the 12 spouses who have lived through their Golden Anniversaries say it’s always best to try to keep marital arguments out of earshot of the children. Honesty, dancing and fun should also be high on the list of any couple who hope to stay married a lifetime.
No two marriages are exactly the same and life has a way of throwing some major curveballs that can rock the foundation of even the strongest relationships. In such times, having a shared and active faith life can mean the difference between being able to ride out the storm and crumbling under the stress of it all. Those whose marriages are centered on God and trust in His loving care are often able to overcome many obstacles that pull the rug right out from under other couples. Perhaps this is because a relationship focused on God is not focused on self; therefore, it may be easier to see past an immediate emotion or problem, to the light at the end of the tunnel.
A careful selection of friends is generally a benefit to any good marriage. Couples who are mindful of their social atmospheres increase their chances of staying married. Good friends support and encourage one another in marriage. If a particular friend tends to demean the opposite gender or take part in activities that undermine the integrity of marriage, it’s probably going to do a lot more harm than good.
One thing to remember is that it is possible to be countercultural in a modern age where getting divorced seems as commonplace as going to the grocery-store. Although a quick perusal of online news may produce more stories about raging custody battles, cheating spouses and divorce court drama than shared family suppers, walks in the park and quiet evenings spent on porch swings across America, it doesn’t mean the latter has ceased to exist, only that it doesn’t sell as well as failed-marriage news. Marriage doesn’t necessarily have to end that way; in fact, it doesn’t have to end at all, until death does a couple part.
Writer Bio: Judy Dudich
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.
