“PRAYER” As the scripture says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us”. -1 John 4:12

This is a verse from the Holy Bible which has powerfully touched my relationship and my married life. Hence, I deem it to be a privilege to share this verse with all those who are eagerly seeking to know the answer to the question, “What do I do to make my marriage work?”

The key to a long-lasting relationship is to “Pray”, that is, “A family that prays together stays together”. This is because, when we pray, it helps us to look at things with a positive perspective.

To “Respect” one another: Accepting the partner as he/she is, for who they are with all their differences is very important. This helps to build feelings like, trust, security, acceptance and well-being.

Nextly, “Mutual Understanding”: It is very difficult to understand a person completely. Hence, what can be done is, accept and try to respond to each others’ emotions. When we neglect or pay less attention, we tend to overlook the concept or the matter as a whole, which can turn out to be the source of misunderstanding. The essence to better understanding “your partner” lies in sharing your thoughts and emotions without the need to maintain any secrecy.

It is important to set your life completely transparent before your partner. “Communication” is yet another important aspect of a successful relationship: It is always advisable to share any information crystal clear with the partner. A good communication is a vital part of any relationship. When both people know what they want from the relationship and feel comfortable expressing their needs, fears and desires, it can increase trust and strengthen the bond between them.

“Love and Affection” for your partner: The mental, emotional and social advantages of receiving love and affection speak for themselves. Besides from helping you to maintain positive, long-lasting relationships, your confidence and self-esteem get a major boost. You and your loved one can strengthen your bond and build greater trust towards each other. 

Enjoy doing the Household Chores together: “Share the Work”.

We have to eat good food, wear good clothes, and live in a hygienic and an organized life.

We cannot always depend on assistance from a “third” person. As Husband and Wife, both should invest their time and interests for a common goal and get done with the daily chores.

By working as a team, the workload is reduced, and on the other hand, a single partner is not burdened. Also, this can be a really good opportunity to spend quality time with your partner.

“Never ever carry your fights or your anger to the next day”: It’s not possible to be in a relationship and not fight with the “Love of Your Life”. When in a relationship, fights may seem like the end of the world, but its completely normal and healthy for couples to disagree on certain things, because it is obvious to have individual differences. But, when it leads to not just an argument, but a fight, that’s when you need to think over. It is healthy for the relationship, to resolve the fight and come to common terms with each other, before going to bed. As far as possible, do not carry your fights to the next day. An unsettled fight would ruin the peace of mind for both the partners. Never the less, the partners may be affected by this in their other tasks.

Ultimately, “Pray and Eat Together”: We live for our families. Though we are investing most of our time at work or on our personal space, it is more important to give time to our partner and our family. Afterall, we are working hard for the betterment of our family as a whole. Also, spending quality time with loved ones keeps the relationship strong. And a prayer becomes much more powerful when the other person becomes aware of our needs and desires.

As the Word of God rightly says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”.

- Matthew 18:19-20

Article By

-Flora Angeline Soans