By Marci Seither, Contributing Writer

The organ music gently played as I walked down the aisle in my mother’s white lace and beaded taffeta gown toward my waiting groom. The small white leather-bound Bible she had carried 24 years earlier was held next to my bouquet of pink and white flowers.

Under a veil of wispy netting, we recited vows, exchanged rings, and John and I shared our first kiss as husband and wife. Our outdoor reception followed at my parent’s country home felt like a huge get-together of our family and closest friends. I remember the temperatures pushing toward the triple digits as our June wedding date approached, but the day we said our “I Do’s” it was in the high 80’s with a slight breeze. Everything was perfect.

Now, 30 years and 6 kids later, I would have to say that there is a huge difference between a picture perfect wedding and a healthy marriage. It hasn’t been the good times that have tightened our marital knot, but rather weathering the storms together that has helped creating a lasting, unbreakable bond.

Don’t get me wrong, date nights, romantic gestures of affection, thoughtful love notes tucked into briefcases or lunch boxes can help keep the home fires burning, but it is selfless every day dedication and commitment that separates a marriage covenant from a business contract.

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John and I have shared some pretty incredible adventures together, laughed until we could barely speak, and cried bitter tears of grief. You take the good with the bad and move forward. Being in love is more than an emotion. It is admitting when you are wrong or being able to graciously forgive the other person when they are at fault without holding a grudge.

I remember how tightly we held each other after seeing the pink line appear on the thin pregnancy test wand that I could barely breathe. Years later, when we found out that four soldiers from our son’s unit in Afghanistan were down, but names were withheld until families were notified, we held each other again, just as tight, until we got the call from Nathan saying he was fine.

Holding onto each other is a critical part of marriage. Keeping God as the center is the glue that holds the bond that holds us together, even when it feels like life is unraveling.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Putting each other first is a choice that couples must make. It is not about “me” time, it is the commitment that you made before God and others to love, honor, cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, forsaking all others until the very end.

That is the foundation that your home is built on.

It is the WHY behind a bouquet of unexpected flowers, a candle light dinner, and making time to connect.

To have and to hold isn’t just something you say on your wedding, it is something you live throughout your marriage.

TAKE TIME

Sometimes we get so busy we tend to forget about the little gestures of love.

Speaking of small gestures. I have a story in a devotional book for fiction lovers,  “21 Days Of Love”, and I would love to give away a free copy.

Leave a comment below or share this link and I will draw a name at the end of the month.

Join Me For a Challenge!

One of my goals for 2016 is to focus more on my husband, to have more fun in our marriage, and to make him feel cherished and loved! Together with two of my very favorite bloggers, we will be going through a marriage challenge February 8-March 8th!Get all the details & join in here!

Are you ready to take some time to focus on your marriage but you don’t know where to start? Do you wish you and your husband spent more time talking, laughing, and having fun together? Three Christian bloggers have come together to give you the ultimate bundle to help you strengthen your marriage! Check out the bundle today (and join our optional Facebook challenge group)!

P.S. We are offering a 100% money back guarantee in case the bundle isn’t what you expected or wasn’t helpful. Now you literally have no reason not to go check it out!