I have been re-watching a little of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Last night the figure skating couples were on and I thought, “Isn’t marriage a bit like this?” Think about it. You are both skaters, you both work on your own, but then come together to create something very beautiful! At the very least, all your efforts go towards that one goal: To win a medal, preferably the Gold.
What is true about Olympic athletes?
* They practice, practice and practice some more
* They pick a great partner-one they can work with
* They have a great and awesome coach
* They have their encouragers, families, & friends cheering them on to their fullness potential
* They put a lot of time, money and energy into being the best they can be
* They don’t quit easily; they get up when they fall down
* They have a set of reachable expectations, which they both know & strive for
* They share in the victories as well as the defeats
* They talk and listen very well to each other
* They are firm but also gentle with each other
* They (especially the women) trust each other
* They are there for one another
Is this not the way we married folks should be also in our marriages? I’m amazed at the trust the women skaters have: the men skaters throw them up and then catch them! While my husband
and I don’t skate, I do trust him to ‘catch me’ at times. He does this by listening, by being there for me. And I do the same for him. It’s a win-win situation. By no means perfect, but we keep at it. Just like those world class skaters: practice, practice, practice.
A big thanks to my friend Teri, in sunny California, for pointing out that “though the ice is cold and hard, it is a solid foundation”. So, another question is: What’s your foundation for your marriage? Is it a solid base? I believe God has got to be the foundation for our marriages.
What about you ladies? Are you skating in sync with your husbands, or on the path to? What ways can you do that this week, or even today? Last, but not least, how firm is your foundation?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pam Bass is a wife, mom, and licensed Christian counselor, who has helped hundreds of people over the last 23 years. She desires wives especially to be cognizant of the way the American culture can influence our stated Christian values. Through her blog, she hopes to encourage women (in particular) to know and trust what God tells us in His word. Find out more at www.pambass.com