Marriage Advice

The other night I was glancing through my husband/marriage journal. I started this journal right before I got married I wanted to right down any marriage advice, prayers & blessings for my husband, bible verses/devotions on marriage etc. I was reading all of the advice I received from ladies at my bridal shower. We did a thing where everyone took a note card and wrote down their advice for me to read later. There was some pretty good stuff to read so I thought I'd share. :)

-Laugh a lot. Keep fights clean, no name calling. 

-Learn to compromise, not argue. 

-Always leave with a hug & a kiss. 

-Learn not to always say what you think. 

-Have patience. Be forgiving. Sometimes you need to keep your comments to yourself. 

-Always be open & honest. Talk about everything. 

-Be slow to anger & quick to forgive. 

-Marriage is what you make it. 

-Learn to give & take.

-Always keep your husband first. If you keep him first & spoil him you will notice you get spoiled even more in return. 

-Learn to laugh in the middle of a stupid fight. 

-Enjoy the little things in life & your small times together. 

-When your Papa & I got married he was told always kiss her goodbye when you go & when you get home & always good night. Be happy & have some grand youngins. & most important keep God in your life. 

(This one was from my Mema. When I read this one it honestly hurt my heart A LOT. Because my Papa holds a special place in my heart. I have always been his "little girl" as he calls me. This one struck a chord with me because my Papa is not in the best of health. He's not in the worst but definitely not the best. & I have no intentions of having kids anytime soon. As I have mentioned before. Not to be morbid or doom & gloom I just don't know if he will actually get to see my kids one day. Honestly it made me cry & I felt really selfish. I was blessed to have my great grandparents in my life when I was a child. My kids may not have that & that makes me really sad. & selfish for possibly denying my Papa the joy of meeting my children one day. But then again I can't just start having babies for that reason. When I'm not ready. All I know is its in Gods timing. & it will happen like He wants it to happen. He's always got a plan.)

-Don't hit your hubby first thing when he gets home with problems or to do's. Give him time to come home, relax & enjoy coming home. Our homes should be a haven from the outside world.

(That is one of my favorites "our homes should be a haven from the outside world." A husband & wife should both strive to make their house a home. Somewhere away from the world they feel safe & relaxed. Somewhere where they're loved. That they can be theirselves & not worry about anything else. That's what I want my home to be.)

-Maintain good communication & a positive attitude. 

-Marriage is not 50/50. It's 100/100. You both have to give your all. Forget "me". It's now "us". 

-Pick your battles. Think before you speak. 

-Always put God first in everything. 

-"Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows." James 1:17. Always remember that our God is the giver of good gifts. I am so thankful He gave you to all of us. 

(This one makes me smile. My mom in law wrote this one. I thank God everyday for Andrew & his family. I have in laws who do not feel like in laws. I feel like I've always been a part of the family. That is a blessing in itself. Not many people can say that. Now when I hear that verse I always think of my mom in law. :)

-Do not go to bed angry. 

(I got this one multiple times. It's a biggy!)

-Never let a day go by without settling arguments. 

-Do little things for each other. 

-Become a life long student of becoming a better wife. Not trying to make him a better husband. 

(Ouch! That ones a kick in the tail. How many of us wives try to pick out all the things wrong with our husband? But don't look at our own flaws?.....)

-Give 100% & expect nothing in return. You both will be blessed in this. 

I can say I have followed some of these in my whole 10 months of married life. But most things I have a longgggggg way to go on. I love my husband. I'm so thankful God blessed me with him. I hope I can strive everyday to be the best wife for him. & when I screw up (cause Lord knows I do!) I want to learn from my mistakes & keep on moving forward. 

What's some marriage advice you have received?