Marriage starts off so simple. There’s you, your spouse, a place to live, a job to go to, and free time together. But as time goes on, marriage gets more complicated. Kids come along. Bills increase. Your job gets more demanding. Your kids get more demanding. The house gets bigger. There’s more upkeep. Your mortgage increases. There are more health issues, higher taxes, and less time.
But what if marriage were simpler? I know…it sounds unrealistic, but stick with me for a minute. I didn’t say, “What if marriage were simple.” I said, “What if marriage were simpler. What if it were possible to declutter and simplify your marriage, even a little? Wouldn’t you want to?
If you want a simpler marriage, consider the following four questions:
How would you feel if your marriage were simpler? The following is just a partial list of things you might feel if your marriage were simpler…
- Less pressured.
- More relaxed.
- More focused.
- Less frantic.
- More rested.
- More fulfilled.
- Less overwhelmed.
- Less frustrated.
How would you benefit from a simpler marriage? To help you get a picture of what a simpler marriage might look like, consider these possibilities…
- Time to be quiet and reflect.
- Time to stop and smell the roses.
- Time to have fun.
- Time to slow down and relax.
- Time to spend with family.
- Time to spend with friends.
- Time to take walks.
- Time to spend with God.
What keeps you from a simpler marriage? There will be many things that get in the way of making your marriage simpler. These are just a few…
- Not saying “no” when you should.
- Not setting your goals and priorities ahead of time.
- A lack of discipline.
- Poor stewardship of your time, money, and resources.
- Poor organization.
- The demands of children.
- Fear of missing out on something.
- Trying to keep up with your peers.
What could you do to make your marriage simpler? Here are some possibilities…
- Live on a budget.
- Be punctual.
- Don’t schedule too many things in your day, week, and month.
- Delegate some things.
- Set goals and priorities.
- Make spending time together a priority.
- Pray more.
The above are just some thoughts to whet your appetite for a simpler marriage. You and your spouse must discover your own answers, specific to your marriage. But if reading this prompts a yearning in you for a simpler life and marriage, then take your spouse out for a burger and talk about how this might apply to your marriage.
Great post Bret! So incredibly true and a needful reminder that marriage and life in general can be made more simple with intentional choices. We can take back control of what we’ve let slip away.
Yes! We can take back control of some things and make better choices. Thanks for the comment, and thanks for reading!