MARRIAGE NEEDS SAFEGUARDS

We usually come to marriage deeply in love and consumed with each other and all the beauty of the season, and you should! But, in all those emotions, we usually don’t plan ahead to protect this incredible marriage commitment because we assume it to be unbreakable or unshakable. But, when you purchase an expensive vehicle or technology, you usually also purchase an insurance plan to help you best protect this valuable asset. In the same way, we must protect our most important earthly relationship, which is our marriage. Sadly, a couple usually doesn’t realize the need for this until their marriage is so off track that it feels beyond saving. That is why your marriage needs something to guard it and keep it safe and strong. Another way to look at it is when you have precious valuables at home; you usually keep them protected in a safe or guarded by a security system. Yet, the most precious thing on earth, MARRIAGE, is often left unguarded and open for attack and decay.

A healthy and passionate marriage will not stay that way by accident; we must SAFEGUARD our marriage.

ˈsāfˌɡärd –

• Noun: a measure taken to protect someone or something or to prevent something undesirable.
• Verb: protect from harm or damage with an appropriate measure.
• Synonyms: protection, defense, guard, screen, buffer, preventive, precaution, provision, security

You’ll notice that a safeguard is a measure that must be thought of ahead of time. It’s less reactionary and more an intentional advanced strategy to be sure your relationship remains healthy for the long haul. We must decide ahead of time to implement habits and practices that SAFEGUARD and create a healthy marriage. If you’re reading this plan, chances are high that you want to build a significant and lasting marriage. So commit right now with your spouse or future spouse that you will commit to putting in the work to change, grow, and set up these twelve safeguards together.

Most wait till their marriage is rocky to try to figure things out, but what if you could put in SAFEGUARDS that would keep your marriage safe and ensure that you have a fun, healthy, and passionate marriage for years to come? Also, safeguards aren’t just about “not getting a divorce.” They are about creating a thriving love story together. And while this plan is valuable if you’re beginning in marriage, know that these safeguards can be installed into your marriage at any point to strengthen or restore life and health. Some of these safeguards were taught to my wife and me before marriage; many were learned along the way, and for sure, all of them were things we had to grow in as we went. As for Katie and I, our marriage is in a place of health and strength at the time of writing this, but for it to continue in health, we must keep embracing these safeguards. These principles aren’t just one-time applications but an ongoing commitment.

All of us can have a great and thriving marriage!

Safeguards are like guardrails for our marriages. On a road trip, you won’t find guardrails on every part of the road, just the windy corners and sections where you could end up going off the edge. And usually, those guardrails are sadly there because someone previously went off the road in that area, so now they put up rails. In the same way, we can put safeguards up for our marriage based on our past mistakes and by looking at how others have gone off the rails in their marriages. I don’t want to only learn from my mistakes; I want to learn from others and set up my marriage for strength.