6 Commitments of Highly Effective Marriages -- Part 1 | Permanence

Highly effective marriages are committed to the permanence of marriage.  They are committed to the ancient marriage formula, "till death do us part."  They are committed to never getting a divorce.  

This comes from the teachings of Jesus.  "Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate (Mt 19:6)."

Effective marriages don't just commit to stay together until they fall out love, or until they find someone better, or until they no longer get along, or until they become unhappy.  Effective marriages commit to "have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

When you commit to the permanence of marriage, it motivates you to make the most of your marriage.  When you realize you are stuck, and you have no way out, and this is your only chance for love and marital bliss, then you are pushed to make it work.  When you are committed to the permanence of marriage you limit yourself to two options: Be happily married, or be miserably married.  Faced with this decision, most couples choose to do whatever it takes to be happily married.

When my dad proposed to my mom, she said yes!  Then he said, "Hold on!  If we get married, this is for keeps.  There's no turning back; no going back; no getting out; divorce is not an option."  Again, my mom said, "Yes!"  For the past forty-eight years they have had a wonderful marriage, and that's a big reason why.