10 of the Best Marriage Tips for You on Our 50th Anniversary

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Today is the big day! It’s our 50th Wedding Anniversary!!

How did that happen?!

We’ve been blessed . . . not only with a lasting marriage but with a happy one, too.

Sure, there have been hard circumstances and things that tried to defeat us but by God’s grace, we’ve enjoyed love, laughter, and joy in being together. There is still no one with whom I would rather spend my time. So, if you’d like to know how we do it, here are our best marriage tips for a relationship that is lasting and happy.

10 of the Best Marriage Tips

♥ Laugh 

We love to laugh and we love to make each other laugh. 

Humor has gotten us through many of life’s difficult moments. I knew Rev was a “keeper” when his first words on our first date made me laugh and he still makes me laugh every day.

♥ Flirt 

This is my favorite advice for newlyweds. – Never stop flirting with each other and only with each other.

Remember how you playfully worked to win each other’s affection at the beginning of your relationship? Don’t stop. Ever. It’s a powerful way to show how much you care and keep your marriage young and fun.

♥ Protect

Put a hedge of protection around your marriage.

Refuse to put yourself in any situation where you will be tempted to betray your marriage emotionally or physically.

Gary Smalley wrote:

“Make it your goal to create a marriage that feels like the safest place on earth.”

♥ Be Kind and Encouraging

Treat your spouse like you would treat your best friend. It’s the best way to keep him/her your best friend.

We believe friendship is a very important characteristic of a strong and happy marriage.

A true friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and loves and accepts you just the way you are. – Unknown

♥ Be Appreciative 

Say “please” and especially, say “thank you.”

Those two little words can get a lot more cooperation in a relationship than all the nagging in the world.

Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12

♥ Listen First

I am a talker. It’s not easy for me to simply sit and listen without planning what I am going to say next, but it is essential. Listening is hearing to understand not just to respond. 

“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

♥ Compromise

Winning cannot be the goal in a good marriage relationship.

It’s hard when you’re disagreeing to find answers and solutions . . . compromise, not conquest, has to be the goal. Remember you are on the same team. If emotions are high and you can’t talk things over calmly, agree to disagree for the moment and try again later. 

♥ Keep Problems Private 

Never air your problems in public. Not even to your friends.

It is so tempting, but once it’s out there you have no control over how it gets distorted or where it goes! 

Gossips can’t keep secrets, but a trustworthy person can.

Proverbs 11:13 (NCV)

♥ Pray Together 

It will strengthen your marriage and help you both grow closer to the Lord.

When you’ve run out of answers and you don’t know where to turn, when life is wonderful and you’re full of gratitude, when __________.

Prayer is surrender that draws us closer to God and to each other.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:12

♥ Celebrate

Celebrate the big things and the little things.

If we look hard enough we can always find something to celebrate. Celebrate the gift of today!

It doesn’t have to be complicated or lavish. Make your favorite dinner or put the kids to bed and have a popcorn and movie night. Whatever you do . . . count your blessings and celebrate.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

A Prayer for Our Marriages

Father, thank you for giving us the blessing of marriage and family. Thank you for creating us for relationships. You created us to love . . . to love You and one another. You said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18) and from the beginning, You made a plan.

I thank you today for our marriage, for bonus days, for reasons to celebrate, for our family, and for blessings too numerous to list. May we always focus on You and what You say is important. Be with us and make us the strong cord of three strands not easily broken.

We entrust our lives and our marriage to You. Please be with us, guard and protect us, guide and direct us. Please give us everything we need to love like Jesus. In whose name I pray. Amen.

This year, Rev and I chose Ecclesiastes 4:12 as our verse for the year.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken. (CSB)

Because the most important tip I can share – is the difference it makes when both husband and wife SEEK the Lord and build their relationship on the foundation of His love.

I’d love to hear from you today. Tell me about your marriage and your best tips for a lasting happy marriage.

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