pedro negro: Along the same lines...

In my times of reflection and thought I am often so thankful for many of the things in my life that are constants. My family, always a phone call away to help with anything. My wife, the anchor in my life of love, support, encouragement and most of all friendship. I have been so burdened lately with troubles that I have heard about in a few different marriages. It breaks my heart that so many young people struggle with marriage. Marriage should be the joining of two best friends for a long life of love and support, "through sickness and heath, richer or poorer, for as long as you both should live." I know that this is somewhat cheesy or cliche but it's true. Marriage is so much more than the certificate, it is not a piece of paper, anyone can get that and it means nothing, but marriage is the bond that you have with only one person that is so special nothing should be able to tear it apart. The problem with this is when we allow ourselves to begin forming bonds with people of the opposite sex other than your spouse. It is one thing to have friends, I have many "girlfriends" but I do not talk to them about certain things that should be talked about only with guy friends in the right context and setting. If not these talks begin to form the special bond, I am sure that this sounds crazy and it is, but husbands and wives do not wake up one morning and cheat on their spouse, it takes weeks and months of talking to someone of the opposite sex about personal things in your life when you should not be. Next thing you know you are justifying your action because "he or she understands you better" and you never would have allowed this to happen but it "just happened." It didn't "just happen" you spent the last three months making sure that it was going to happen.

Sorry for the rant but it really makes me sick seeing the state of marriage today.

Kids listen up!

Date for a long time, get to know them, the family, friends, through all seasons of life
If your friends don't like who you are dating that is usually a good sign that it's not good
Don't rush to get married so you can have sex. Bad idea. The sex will not hold a marriage together for long at all.
If you are not marrying your best friend, keep looking, you will grow to hate one another with all the little things you are unwilling to put up with.
"Don't let the sun go down on your anger" do not let anger fester in your heart, it will get bigger and bigger until it consumes you
"You can only love those around you as good as you can love you wife." Use that as a gauge for your life it really helps.

I'm not an expert or have all the answers by any means but I love my wife, were happy, we get along and today was better than yesterday and it has been like that for the last 7 years.

"win her heart everyday" best marriage advise I ever received.