Foundations of Marriage

This is the second in a series of three blogs on the foundation stones of a happy marriage.

Becoming One Flesh - Prior my previous blog
Love and Respect Cycle
Power and Love Balance

Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. -Aurelius

These three fundamental principles represent key ingredients of a happy marriage. There is no magic recipe for a happy marriage but there are certain principles, which will provide a sound foundation for strengthening your marriage.



Love and Respect Cycle: from the book Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

The principle is taken from Ep 5:33. It is a simple concept rooted in this easy to understand summary of Eph 5:33; "however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." The principle is illustrated in the chart on the left.

Bringing harmony to your marriage may be as easy as being the first one to make a move to provide what your mate most desperately needs.

A man wants and needs respect, a woman wants and needs love. It is that simple. Love motivates a woman to respect her husband and respect motivates a man to love his wife. What could be easier. But there is a catch. What if the person you are married to is not lovable, or not worthy of respect?

The solution is not in finding fault but in finding the original torch. What was it that made you fall in love in the first place? No doubt it was more than one thing. Write down a list of the things you love about your mate and meditate on the list, think about them, add to them as new ideas come to mind. You will find that when you think about what you love in a person your emotions will react to your thoughts.

What did you respect about the man you married, make a list of them and meditate on the list, think about them and your emotions will take over in the way you relate to him.

Do these simple things and you will find the principle of love and respect is a powerful ally in developing a happy marriage.