Making Commitment Work

Successful marriages are not held together solely by the iron of commitment. They get their strength from the alloy of commitment plus caring.
Author Lewes Swedes, in Commitment and Caring, describes a couple about as opposite as two people can be: "He is spiritual: she is earth. He is detached: she loves to be intimate with people. He is dependent: she could manage almost anything by herself. ... He is always careful: she likes to take risks. . . . He hates conflict: she dares take on any."

This husband and wife, however, have developed a deep and satisfying relationship because they have given each other permission to be themselves. Smedes sums it up, "These two people have turned commitment into joy, mostly because they have gradually learned how to set each other free."

Christ died on the cross to forgive our sins and set us free to become all God wants us to be. As we increasingly real ize the security of His love and the freedom it brings, we will want to give that same quality of love to our mates. We will let them be who they are so they can offer to us the unique gift of themselves.

Commitment in marriage keeps us working at caring, and caring makes commitment work. -DJD

MARRIAGE MAINTENANCE
How can a couple's individual strengths and weaknesses
enhance their marriage? In what area do I need to give
my partner more freedom to be himself or herself?

IF A MARRIAGE GIVES OUT, THERE USUALLY HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH PUT IN