I want to salute all the spouses who, in spite of unfavorable marriage conditions, are still:

• showing up each day
• loving as Christ loved the church (husbands)
• submitting (respecting) their husbands as unto the Lord (wives)
• praying for their mate daily
• doing good even when good is not being returned
• believing the best about their mate
• working through conflict
• building trust after an affair
• hoping against hope
• trusting God to make something beautiful out of their marriage.

The longer I'm married (20 years now), the more I realize that the union is more than sex, children, positive emotions, money, a nice house, a great automobile, and whatever else you may currently see as the foundation of your marriage.

The marriage union is about a decision to do the things mentioned above over and over and over.