Marriage : A Promise for Life
After more than a decade into marriage, I admit Marriage is not a bed of roses.
We are bound to have our differences and it takes alot of cooperations and efforts by both person to sustain a life-long relationship.
At the point of marriage vows, a couple makes their promises for life. Then, it would take two willing parties to fulfill these promises.
How do some couples nurture and sustain their marriages? We have much to learn from those who maintain a blissful and life-long marriage.
Here are ten rules from a couple who reached their 50th anniversary and successfully made their marriage a promise for life.
1. Never both be angry at the same time.
2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.
3. If one of you has to win an argument, let it be your mate.
4. If you must criticize, do it lovingly.
5. Never bring up mistakes of the past.
6. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.
7. Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled.
8. At least once every day say a kind or complimentary word to your life partner.
9. When you have done something wrong, admit it and ask for forgiveness.
10. Remember it takes two to make a quarrel.
These rules relate mainly to lowering our pride AND BEING less self-centred, more accomodating, more forgiving and more communicative.
Isn’t it?
For those married, how many of these do you fail in?
Click HERE to read our earlier post on Marriage.
I must admit these rules seems easy to follow but they are not! Especially when things are heated up, how are you still able to “criticize lovingly” and how to “never be both angry at the same time”? I never get to do those… :(
i believe most couples tend to encounter problems throughout the course of marriage. these are great tips for a happy marriage. however, good in theory but not so good in practise to some people. :)
Hi Michael and Life Ramblings,
I absolutely agree that it is hard to adhere to these rules especially when a couple each sees his/her own point. It is an art of communication and tolerance. Somehow, when two people get close, the level of tolerance tends to become lower too. But I strongly believe that if we can try one rule at a time, the one we feel most confident in, then slowly we will master more….At the end of the day, it takes two parties to appreciate these rules together first before they can try them out because we need two hands to clap. At the end, it is still whether we want to do it or makes some changes to our attitudes.
Haha…I do give compliments to Ed sometimes (but must admit I am stingy about this) and definitely do not like problems to remain unsettled. Yes, I certainly find the “criticize lovingly” most challenging.
Well, that’s interesting! I appreciate to read such things!
Nice rules, but I think they are hard to follow. I haven’t been married long but I’m married to a man who criticizes. He can’t help himself…I don’t think he’s even aware when he’s doing it. So it’s a bit hard to admit I’m wrong and say ’sorry’ when I’m being criticized all the time; I tend to get defensive.