1. Never both be angry at once.
2. Never yell at each other, unless the house is on fire.
3. Yield to the wishes of the others as an exercise in self-discipline if you can’t think of a better reason.
4. If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good, choose your mate.
5. If you have any criticism, make it lovingly and in private.
6. Never bring up a mistake of the past.
7. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.
8. Never let the day end without saying at least one kind or complimentary thing to your life partner.
9. Never meet without an affectionate welcome.
10. Never let the sun go down on an argument unresolved.
11. When you do wrong, make sure you have talked it over and asked forgiveness.
12. Remember, it takes two to make a quarrel. The one with the least sense is the one who will be doing the most talking. (Author Unknown)
These are twelve good rules for our consideration. Go back and read that last sentence in number 12 again. That is pretty straight forward and to the point. When anger rules, good sense is often missing. Living together in the marriage relationship is not always easy. But with God’s help and our commitment to each other and to our children, any problem can be solved. I recall my children wanting to learn how to ride a bicycle without training wheels. They had many falls with bruises and skinned knees, but they kept on until they mastered their challenge. I call it the “want tos.” If my “want to” is strong enough, there is no problem too big, especially if I am seeking God’s help.
Is the “want to” evident in my marriage? What about yours? If you would like to talk about your marriage using Ephesians 5:22-33 as a needed reference, give me a call, 601 562-4226.
— Les Ferguson, Sr.
