The Art of Marriage.

Thought I'd share a nice reading today. Enjoy!

The Art of Marriage
by Wilferd Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, the little things become the big things.

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you"
at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation,
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which
the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,
and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the right partner.

My love.

Today, my DH and I celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. I don't know how the time flew by so quickly and easily, but it did. Looking back, I think my hair might have been a little big (and perhaps a tiara wasn't necessary), but really, I wouldn't change a thing. It remains the best day of my life, and my heart fills with happiness just thinking about it. =)

Here is a reading from our wedding that rings true for us, as partners and best friends.

Love is a Temporary Madness
from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
by Louis de Bernieres

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. We have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from our branches we will find that we are one tree and not two.

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I'm off to celebrate!

Ceremony Reading: Why Marriage?

Why Marriage?
by Mari Nichols

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body.

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me.

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold.

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship.

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements.

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole.

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage.

Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.