Marriage Mentors… got one?
Mark’s
parents have been married 53 years and are an amazing example of a successful
marriage. We are so grateful for the way
Mom & Dad have mentored us throughout our 24 years of marriage.
Mom and Dad’s
regular phone calls have not only taught us to stay in frequent contact with
all our family, but have kept communication lines open and strong. Often deep discussions provide us support in
our marriage and in parenting. They listen
when we need a sounding board, and only give advice when we ask for it. Their phone calls have been comforting and
life-giving over the years.
Through our
life challenges, Mom & Dad have been there when we need a shoulder to cry
on, to listen to us vent, and to suggest ways to cope.
The four of
us discuss different aspects of our relationship. For example, how we communicate and
miscommunicate (then resolve it), or the way we compromise when we
disagree. Mark’s a lot like Dad, and
Mel’s a lot like Mom. As a result, our
marriages have many parallels. These conversations show us how to stand the
test of time and tell us that we’re on the right track if we’re like they
are! Being able to talk with Mom &
Dad is a great support for our marriage.
Mom glows as
she tells us that Dad washes her car every Wednesday. They do so many thoughtful little things for
each other and inspire us to find new ways to do the same.
We have even
gotten to where we can joke about our sexual relationships (nothing too
detailed!). It started one year when we
were newly married; Dad shared that his New Year’s resolution was to have sex
every day of the year. Ha! We just had to laugh! At first it was a little bit embarrassing to
talk about sex with Mom & Dad, but over time we grew more comfortable. Further, their desire to still flirt, keep
the passion burning bright, and share their love with their family taught us to
do the same. As a result, we’ve strived to be open with our kids too. They are
used to it now, and shared with us this year that we are their role models for
how to have a strong marriage. Wow.
If you
already have a mentor couple like we do, then consider yourself blessed. If not, we encourage you to seek one
out. We especially like to spend time
with older couples, who can show us how to have a successful, happy
marriage. They teach us how to make our
love last for decades.
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