Frame of Life- Marriage article

I recently was asked to write an article on marriage. It was fun to write and has been even more fun to live out.

I love this picture. It moves and motivates my soul.

Each frame of this picture captures the essence of time and reminds me how precious and fleeting life is. It causes me to pause and question the depth behind each frame. What is the purpose of marriage? Why do two people come together and “do” life with one another? It causes me to wonder what marriage looks like in the humdrum of life? How do I arrive at the last frame and love well ?

I love how Dr. John Piper describes the purpose of marriage in his book, “This Momentary Marriage.” This is really what it’s all about. Dr. Piper states, “The ultimate thing we can say about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory… Marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to his redeemed people, the church. And therefore, the highest meaning and the most ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the covenant relationship of Christ and his church on display. That is why marriage exists. If you are married, that is why you are married” (Piper 25).

God has created marriage to display His glory. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and are married one of the ways God uses you for His glory is through your interaction and relationship with your spouse.

Isn’t that amazing? That a holy God can receive glory through how we love our husbands.

But, I so quickly forget. I forget in middle of moldy towels and dirty socks. I forget in the middle of whining children and stubbing my toe on toys left out. I forget in the middle of financial pressure and bills that are due. I forget that loving my husband gives God glory even when my emotions aren’t there.

One of my favorite bloggers and author’s, Ann Voskamp has created “The 4 Minute Marriage Habit- How to Fall in Love Again in 4 Minutes Every Day.” Her article helps practically remind me of the great opportunity I have to put God’s glory on display through how I love my husband. In her article she challenges wives to “take four minutes a day to move into a deeper heart place with your husband.”

What do these 4 minutes look like practically?

They happen in the doorways of your home. How you greet your spouse in the morning, how you leave your spouse at the start of the day, how you reunite with your spouse in the evening and how you say good night to one another.

Ms. Voskamp also draws attention to practically hugging one another four times a day. I love her challenge, “Four times a day, embrace. Embrace fully and hold each other’s eyes. That’s all. Repeat four times daily.”

And lastly she challenges wives to thank their husband four times a day. Let him know that you are thankful for him four times a day.

How can I capture the depth behind each frame of this picture? I can practically shower my husband with Grace each time I interact with him. I can greet him kindly and lovingly, I can hug him, deeply hug him and gaze into his eyes. I can thank him. Thank him for being the man that he is. So that when the frame of my life is a dash on a grave marker, Christ’s glory will have been put on display.

Piper, John. This Momentary Marriage. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2009.

“The 4 Minute Marriage Habit.” Holyexperience.com 1.3.2012.