The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:23-24 NASB)

In the midst of marital disagreement, it is not uncommon for a spouse to wonder if there isn't somebody with whom they would be more compatible. Suleyman Guresci, of Izmir, Turkey, divorced his wife of 21 years after a bitter six-year court battle. In an effort to find the ideal woman, Guresci turned to a computer dating service — the kind that evaluates your written profile and suggests matches for you. From a list of 2,000 prospective brides, the computer selected his former wife, who (unbeknownst to Guresci) had signed up for the same service. Guresci's response? He decided to remarry his wife just nine months after their divorce.
He said, "I did not know that my ex-wife had been the ideal counterpart for a marriage. I decided to give it another try by being more tolerant toward her." Raymond McHenry, "Stories for the Soul," p.176

Marriage can be a lot of trouble. Just think about all the time, effort, expense, worry, tension, and heartbreak that goes into the male-female relationship. Young people grow up worrying that someone of the opposite sex won't like them. The same young people often have concerns about what real love is, how they know they are in love, what to do if they think they're in love, and wonder what would happen if the other person really does love them back.

Then there is all the fuss about engagements and weddings. Most guys seem to breeze along and go with whatever they are told to do, but for many young women, it's a big deal. It's even a bigger deal for the mother of the bride-to-be. There are so many decisions to be made, a wedding dress to choose, bridesmaids dresses, decorations, people to invite and more. Yes, it's trouble.

It's not there.

Then the wedding happens and the happy couple gets hit with rice or birdseed, climb into a terribly decorated car and launch into married life. Maybe they enjoy a few days of honeymoon, but sooner or later, just about every couple wakes up one day and comes to a frightening realization: marriage is a lot of trouble and with all its joys and blessings, it also requires a lot of work!

That person you adored can sometimes seem like a stranger. He or she has weird ideas about decorating the house, how to spend money, whose parents you will visit on holidays, what leisure time is all about, and even what TV shows to watch. Resolving financial problems isn't simply a matter of choosing what to buy; it's having enough money period. Communication can grow in volume in direct proportion to the frustration level caused by one's spouse. Nope, marriage isn't easy, it's hard.

I dare you to read your Bible and find the passage that says marriage is easy. Let me save you more trouble. It's not there. Marriage takes work, effort, purpose, and time, but it can succeed beautifully ... especially when we realize that God has given us "the ideal counterpart" and we have "decided to give it another try by being more tolerant."

 

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Title: "Marriage Can Be a Lot of Work!"
Author: Bill Denton
Publication Date: August 20, 2005

Two Hearts Praying as One by Dennis and Barbara Rainey "Praying together may be the single most important spiritual discipline you and your spouse will ever share," say the Raineys--it reduces conflicts and safeguards marriages from divorce.

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