Celebration Of Marriage

Celebration of Marriage

Greetings from the frigid NE

Flying home I felt bad for the flight attendants

No one is listening to them

I wonder how that feels?

Today as we talk about marriage I feel I have nothing really new to say

But I hope you do listen – we can all use the encouragement to make our marriages better

Speaking of airline flights, I’d like to use a flight as a template to discuss marriage

Use some of the advice given on a flight and transfer it to marital advice

Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven’t already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position.

Takeoff is perhaps the most dangerous time of the flight

I say a little prayer

I wonder if this plane is really going to get off the ground

More fuel and energy is expended during that time than any other time

It’s difficult to get the plane in the air

It’s difficult to get a marriage off the ground

Aren’t you amazed at some of the quick divorces we see

Dave Letterman: I think they started drifting away during the ceremony

The early years will be the most difficult and the most precaution has to be taken to get your marriage off the ground

Deut 24:5 If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.

5 ¶ When a man takes a new wife, he is not to go out with the army or be given any business or work duties. He gets one year off simply to be at home making his wife happy.

If you are newly married be aware that the first years are so critical

That’s when you get to know each other

Why does this person like Crest instead of Colgate?

Why is this person so upset that there are socks on the floor?

How can this person sit around watching football all day?

How can this person open presents on Christmas Eve?

All kinds of new experiences

Realize that the takeoff is the scariest part of the flight, but it gets better. Soon you’ll be cruising at a comfortable altitude.

In the unlikely event of a sudden loss of air pressure, the panel above your seat will open automatically & masks like these will drop down. Remain seated & pull a mask towards you. Place it over your nose & mouth & breathe normally. It is the action of pulling the mask that activates the oxygen flow. Passengers travelling with young children should fit their own mask securely before fitting masks to the children in their care

Take care of yourself, not just the kids

I used to think that was pretty mean – your kids are gasping for air and you’re supposed to take care of yourself first!

We can get so caught up in our kids lives. They are demanding. And it’s a lot of fun.

We’re no good to our kids if we are not good to each other

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Make sure you keep your spouse as your number one relationship in your life

Naturally, take care of your kids but make sure you take care of your spouse

One of the best gifts we can give to our kids is to love our spouses like the Bible tells us to

Your kids will someday be gone but your spouse will always be there

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. We are now experiencing some turbulence. Please return your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you."

Expect turbulence

There will be difficult times

Sickness, tragedy, money problems, kid problems, parent problems

Keep your seatbelt on. Don’t jump out of the plane. Don’t go sitting next to someone else. Buckle up and stay close to your spouse.

Too many people want to bale on the marriage at the first sign of trouble