Marriage / Mrs Debbie Bragg

Mrs Debbie Bragg

Pastor's Wife

Lafayette Bible Baptist Church

Wildwood, MO

Marriage

I have taken the word MARRIAGE and made an acrostic out of it.  This is just some things I've learned over 40 years of marriage. I didn't learn it all at once though!!  I never had someone telling me how to do it right. My husband and I when we started out didn't want to pattern our marriage after our parents' marriages. His parents divorced when he was 16. He grew up with a lot of screaming and yelling. On the other hand, my parents did the opposite. It was the silent treatment and cold shoulder.  We just decided we didn't want either of those patterns for our marriage!!    Work together on this.  It's a team effort on your parts. Both of you, together, making a marriage!!!

M.  Make time for each other. Have a date night. Even for us old married couples, we need to make time for each other. After the children come, still continue to have date nights. Someday, before you realize it, those children will be gone from home and it will just be the two of you together again. Don't end up as strangers. Make time for each other through the years. 

A. Always be sweet!!  You may need to bite your tongue!   Keep a sweet attitude. Screaming and yelling are not worth it. Learn to be on the same side with each other. You're not against each other, you're on the same side.  

R. Rely on each other. Make each other your best friend. Confide in each other.  Don't tell your family all his failures. We both have them!!!  But learn to deal with them by praying about them and not talking to others about them.  

R. Refuse to go to bed mad at each other. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath!!  Settle it before morning, even if you have to stay up all night and talk it out!  Take the word "divorce" out of your vocabulary. Don't even threaten divorce in the heat of the moment. Marriage is 100%. It's not 50/50. Be determined to work at your marriage. 

I. Integrity. Be honest and true. When you say you're going to do something, then do it. Don't exaggerate when you're talking to each other. (For example:  You never do this and you always do that). When women exaggerate you are letting your emotions control you.  Don't let your emotions control you. Don't hide things from each other. You're a team!

A. Agree that he is the leader. The Bible says that men are to love and lead. Women are to submit and serve. Today's women don't like the word submit. But it still is in the Bible!!  The man is to submit to God and the woman is to submit to their husband. Let him lead!!!  Some men aren't great at leading but give him a chance to learn and let him do it. A big reason women lead today is because the man won't. But, if you encourage him and tell him you're behind him and will do what he says, then he'll do all he can to lead you and love you. A man wants to know that you will follow him anywhere and be supportive. Let him be the leader. 

G. Glorify God together. Serve God together. Have devotions together. Make sure you have your own personal devotions. Start each day with reading your Bible and praying. When there are children in the home it should already be in your habits to be faithful to church, faithful to reading your Bible and praying, and family devotions. Put God first in your marriage. 

E. Enjoy each other. Have fun!!  Laugh a lot!!  Make a habit of telling him you love him.  Kiss him hello and goodbye every day!!  Write him notes. Do everything you can to keep the relationship fresh. Life really is short. It goes by fast. Make the best of life!!