The Art of Marriage (Wilford Peterson)
“A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, the little things are the big things. It’s never being too old to hold hands. It’s remembering to say ‘I love you’ every day. It’s never going to sleep angry. It’s having mutual values and common objectives. It’s forming a circle of love that encompasses another family. It’s speaking words of appreciation, demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It’s having the capacity to forgive & forget. It’s giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It’s finding room for things of the spirit. It’s a common search for the good and beautiful in this life, but now hand in hand with your very best friend. You see, it’s not only marrying the right partner, it’s being the right partner.”
The Lord’s Prayer:
Matthew 6:9-13
The Apache Blessing (unknown)
“Now for you there is no rain, for one is shelter to the other. Now for you there is no darkness, for one is light to the other. Now for you there is no pain, for one is counsel to the other. Now for you, there is no cold, for one is warmth to the other. It is that way today, tomorrow, forever. Now, it is good and there is always shelter. And now there is always warmth. And now there is always comfort. And there is no loneliness. Now, forever, forever, you are as one.”
Ruth 1:16-17:
“For whither thou goest, I will go, And whither thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, And thy God, my God. Where thou diest, will I die. And there I will be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If aught but death part thee and me.”
On Friendship (Roy Croft)
“I love you, not for what you are, but what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me you bring out. I love you for putting your hand into my heaped up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things you cannot help seeing there, and drawing out into light all the beautiful and radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find. You have done it without a touch, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself.”
A Loving Relationship (Chuck Swindol)
“A loving relationship is one in which individuals trust each other enough to become vulnerable, secure that the other person won’t take advantage. It neither exploits nor takes the other for granted. It involves much communication, much sharing, and much tenderness. A loving relationship is one in which one can be open and honest with another without fear of being judged. It’s being secure in the knowledge that you are each other’s best friend and no matter what happens you will stand by one another. A loving relationship is one in which the individuals involved grow in their understanding and acceptance of each other’s differences. A loving relationship is one that offers comfort in the silent presence of another with whom you know, through words or body language; you share mutual trust, honesty, admiration, devotion, and the thrill of being together. A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself or herself – to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to live himself or herself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never form in a jealous heart.”
Blessing for Marriage (James D. Freeman)
“May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another – not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the mountain does not make the valley less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has mountain towering over it. So let it be with each of you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you entice one another, but not compel one another. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all-important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, ‘I love you!’ and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough take the first step back. May you enter into the mystery which the awareness of one another’s presence – no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms, or even distant cities. May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.”