What do you think about when you picture your ideal marriage?

[jennifer_bloom]

I picture myself going on walks to the lake, pushing a baby stroller, drinking Starbucks coffee, offering verbal affirmations to him and complimenting him every morning.

[horsenrhinounicorn]

Ideal marriage: Marriage as God intends
If we read Deuteronomy 24:5; Genesis 2:24; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:7
Saving before marriage to have one year together to know, grow in tranquility and be in the comfort of each other’s presence. During that first year I would not want any kids, that way each could focus getting to know each other at a deeper level and resolving differences. The wife should talk to the husband about the desires of having kids and making it work before making the assumption he is ready. Make the Lord the center of the marriage. Each works on themself individually rather than trying to change the other person. Make the best use of time for each other to know and enjoy the spouse.
Each person needs individual time for prayer and allowing the Lord to teach them through the word, and to prepare their heart individually so that they can fulfill their role in the marriage. Each person has to be willing to admit their own faults, put away pride and selfishness. Each person must have a heart willing to forgive.
Be willing to try new things. Each person will have different traditions and values, each person should be respected for their differences.

One may be significantly better at something than the other, it takes humility to allow both to enjoy those moments.

Each should share a daily dose of love and respect without expectations; use verbal or non-verbal communication to show your appreciation for the things the other person does for you each day.

Remember the good things that brought you to marriage and what you love about the other and record it in a book, then when the storm comes you can remember their love for you.

Work on yourself and needs so that you can be at your best to lift up the other.

Each person will have different needs, respect those needs and get to know those needs

Do not ask for something in return

Learn and respect each others boundaries

Respond each others relatives and invest time in them

Create time for each other, if you have kids babysit for each other so that each couple can have a break to spend together, with young kids it can be hard to let go of kids. Parents worry about them and it puts stress on the marriage.

[horsenrhinounicorn]

Enjoyment: Going to the gym, hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, national parks, reading together, swimming, hot tub, sauna, couples massage. Art and decoration. Listening to music and audiobooks, singing. Doing different hobbies next to each other when feasible. Board games, puzzles. Take pictures of each other together, later on you can go down memory lane. Mail love letters for the other to open when they come home from work. Cooking together can be fun for many couples, but some people are weak in this area and can get serious weight gain. Have a time to silence the electronics, make yourself emotionally available, make time together quality time. Create a fun list together. Take courses together on commitment and emotional intimacy.

[horsenrhinounicorn]

Realize that the first year can be like butterflies, to make love last it is like a marathon, the longer each can run together through the difficult race, the better conditioned the marriage will be. If one person does not like the movie the other person has great interest in be willing to be next to each other and cuddle in ways each enjoys and learn about the important parts of the movie that should not be interrupted, the other person will have different ways of experiencing peace and enjoying the movie to the fullest, standing in the way in a costume from the movie or quotes is best done at a time that does not interfere with their show, don't block the view or interfere with the sound the best part of the movie could easily be cutoff by a distraction. The same is true with sports, there could be an amazing play that has never happened in the record of sports and your significant other is waiting for that moment to happen, its like being in the Guinness book of world records and seeing it while it happens. Some people study literature or read books with great concentration and have different ways of doing it peacefully. Don’t create a honey do list, create a wish list and take each chore, repair or help as a gift to be thankful for. A honey do list can make the other feel like a slave for free labor. Chores around the home should be discussed prior to the marriage, often times each person may come home from work having a bad work day and the spouse may be the only person in their world who will give them the encouragement or to open up about the stresses of life; often times it requires non-verbal action.

[horsenrhinounicorn]

Each should share in the financial needs of survival, but not make the other suffer to get material items or selfish pleasures of life. Financial issues are one of the main causes of divorce. One can also make the other person by buying a gift with a loan or payment arrangements. They may like the gift, but the financial stress outweighs the benefit of the gift. Non smoking; Non alcoholic wife; A woman strong in the Lord who can uphold the husband exactly when he needs you the most. Be devoted, be an expert on your husbands strengths not his mistakes and weaknesses; Communicate with your husband what you want, dont keep him guessing; When a wife honors her husband, she honors God; The man is to be in charge of the home; The husband is to discuss everything that she wants to pray about, the man has a duty to take those prayer requests and present them before the Lord. The wife should also go on her own in prayer and working on her individual relationship with God. The wife is to be the husband's helper; The husband is to allow her to help and praise her verbally or non-verbally; The wife should be submissive to her husband; Help her husband in ways agreed so that she help him in his weakness and prevents each other from stumbling in sin; Give the adversary no occasion for slander; Be kind, self-controlled, pure and do not let the word of God be reviled. See Titus 2:4-5; A wife who learns quietly with submissiveness. See 1 Timothy 2:11-14; A man is won over by the behavior of their wives. See 1 peter 3:1-5; A woman should not submit to anything that sins against God; Do your husband good and not harm, encourage each other to grow in the faith

[Jamie05rhs]

Please give this man an MHO! This was great!!

[emperor90]

A nice walk to beach movies bowling

[Babybebe15]

- Strong support system
- great communication
- healthy emotional connection
- great physical connection
- both having empathy for one another
- feeling extremely at ease and comfortable around one another
- laughing together a lot of the time
- going on adventures/traveling together
- having a baby/family together
- cooking together
- working out together
- having goals together
- being best friends

[Alwayreckles93]

Well honey that is not the reality of marriage. You are describing a movie scene. Marriage has its good time and rough patches. Not everything is a walk in the park. It takes two people to maintain the marriage strong.

[Titanic1912]

I picture my wife and I with 5 children. Three of our own and two adopted. We don’t want to compromise on a majority of our choices because we don’t want a lot of arguments. I want to have devotions every evening before bed and drawing ourselves closer to God.

[ally018]

Sex very often and supporting each other’s goals and working through fights

[Anonymous]

I believe in hugging him and getting hugged back ❤️

[Jamie05rhs]

I second that!

[captain_voidwalker]

I picture waking up everyday to no one else in my bed because marriage and relationships are for suckers.

[Shark_61695]

Old and grey, sat in front of a roring fire.

[collie22]

i think about my parents marriage often

[exitseven]

Just the opposite of my parents.

[Nerdvana]

Al and Peggy Bundy

[Anonymous]

Lots of sex and emotional support