Constant Vigilance

     I've been thinking this week about how easy it is to let your guard down, to get comfortable and lazy, and to take things for granted in your marriage.  One thing that makes marriage so challenging is that your relationship is constantly changing and evolving as you and your spouse are constantly changing and growing too.  It is impossible for your marriage to stay the same day after day, year after year.  And all that change requires constant vigilance.  We must make our marriages a top priority in our lives!  We must take time to evaluate the quality of our marriage on a regular basis.  We must keep our guard up all the time against harmful influences.  We must question our loyalties and our motives daily.  Your marriage is a precious, important relationship that must be safeguarded, protected, and strengthened on a daily basis.
     I know there are so many other demands and distractions in life.  We have children, jobs, school, church, and many other obligations that demand our attention.  But we can't lose focus on our marriage, and we can't let our marriage fall to the bottom of our priority list.  Strengthening your marriage can be something as simple as taking 3 seconds to look into your spouse's eyes to say, "I love you."   It can be as complex as planning a surprise weekend getaway.  Or it can be anywhere in between.  Take some time each day to connect with your spouse.  Make time for conversation.  Evaluate your heart and your feelings toward your spouse every day.  If your heart is not in the right place, make a change.  Your marriage can stay strong and healthy if you commit to constant vigilance.
     Why not start today?  Think about where your marriage is at right now.  What is going well?  What is not going great?  What changes can you make to improve your relationship?  What have you done to strengthen your marriage today?  What can you do today to make your marriage stronger, healthier and happier?  Communicate with your spouse, and commit to make one change today to improve your marriage.  You can do it!  Every step in the right direction is important, no matter how small.  With constant vigilance, your marriage can become (or stay) strong and healthy.