A Thoughtful Question

What are some strengths you appreciate about your marriage?
(Not about your spouse. Your marriage.)

“I guess, no matter what, we always have each other." That’s about the best Little Miss Sunshine could come up with as she is down with the flu this week. And I mean down. A PR for hours in bed.

Although she liked the question I was going to have to carry the freight in this conversation.
“Blink once if you agree with what I say, twice, if you don’t, and close for four seconds if you want me to go away.” (Not actually in this bad of shape.)

One thing that occurred to me right away was that from the beginning of our marriage we had always been a pair to those who knew us. We were always “Mark and Libby,” which was not relevant to Libby’s work, but as a pastor was definitely relevant to mine. One staff at a prospective church told me, “One of the best things about you coming here is your marriage. You and Libby enjoy each other.” Although, I heard more than once, “We like you, but we really like Libby!”

I appreciate the things we enjoy together, including Tar Heel basketball, football and soccer. The only time Libby got out of bed on Monday was to watch the NCAA National Championship. She made it through the first quarter.

Our personal experience with Christ has always been a source of strength for us. Libby likes to say that she can trust God to help me be the husband she needs. (I guess another way of saying that is that I’m God’s problem, not hers.)

We don’t pretend or even aspire to have a perfect marriage, but we do want to have a growing marriage.

What strengths do you appreciate about your marriage?