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How many of us spend all our lives trying to find a mate who will love us and stand by us? Someone who will have our backs and give us unconditional love. I admire couples who have remained married for decades. They have stayed married through thick and thin; through trials, and yes, through mistakes that their spouse has made. Marriage is made of two imperfect people trying to form a perfect union. It requires a lot of love, patience, forgiveness, commitment, and the ability to not quit during the bad times. I have not experienced this in my lifetime. Now that I am in my seventies, I have come to the realization that I will never experience being in a fulfilling marriage. I have come to accept this. Marriage is a trade-off, in that there is another person whom you need to please, whose opinion you should take into consideration when making decisions, whose bad habits impact you. These are some of the reasons why we must choose wisely when choosing a mate. Better yet, let God do the choosing for you.
When I was young, I had no lack of suitors. I sometimes wondered how I would know the right person to marry. Well, as it turned out, I did not. I liked the challenge; therefore, I was attracted to those who needed work. I was more interested in finding someone to love than finding someone to love me. My childhood had not predisposed me to seeking someone who cared about my feelings. I was accustomed to having my feelings disregarded, and so did not realize that this was an important trait in a spouse. I liked good looking men. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other women 😊 In my defense, I must say that when I found myself no longer able to function in the marriage, I would suggest counseling. My suggestion was never acted upon.
Today, I am being prepared to become the bride of Christ. I am a part of His church. He is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). I have found a bridegroom who loves me unconditionally. He will never leave me or forsake me. He does not mind my outward appearance because He is more interested in my heart. He has my back. He cares about how I feel. He comforts me when I am feeling down. He listens to me. He wants nothing but the best for me. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no one in all the earth who is greater than Him. He knows everything and is all wise. He never makes bad decisions. He never leads me in the wrong direction. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
If you have not been able to find “love” in a mate, take heart; there is someone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved, His name is Jesus.
https://joyfoster.substack.com/