Solid…building the Marriage of Your Dreams by Godman AkinlabiSample

 Accept Your Differences

In marriage, you must distinguish between a weakness and a difference. A weakness is a disadvantage or a fault and should always be dealt with. A difference is the way in which two people or things are not alike. It’s simply a fact about the situation at hand.

In marriage, there are several areas outside the physical in which a couple differ such as background, race or tribe, education, vocation, personality type, and so on. The very nature of marriage involves two different parts coming together to make a more interesting whole. We sometimes forget that God made the man and the woman different and called both of them good. Compatibility is not about finding your clone but about finding the one who brings a different ingredient to the table that will match yours. 

Differences are neither life-threatening nor marriage-threatening. Upbringing tempts us to feel either inferior or superior to our spouses. You forget that none of us had anything to do with where we were born or raised, and therefore, deserve neither credit nor discredit. You both get to learn vital things that complement each other and not tear you apart. Do not let ignorance, prejudice or insecurities about your differences ruin your marriage. Approach differences with a sense of appreciation and adventure for a chance to learn something new and you might just grow to love that thing that is so different. You are different but special - fearfully and wonderfully made to complement not confound each other. Differences have a multiplier effect on life or living. They are to be celebrated, not tolerated.

Action Point: Show genuine interest in what makes your spouse different by choosing to share in one of such differences. Make a date of it, complete with smiles, laughter and an appreciation of what makes them tick.