Fire Proof

I remember years ago when a family related to someone at church lost their home to a fire.  They were devastated, no one was injured, gratefully.  Yet, when I saw the home I wasn't surprised.  It was little more than a shack, added on and added on haphazardly, not updated electrically, clothing and fabric close to the furnace and water heater.  Then one morning leaving for work, when we lived in Fairmont, I saw a house that had burned in the middle of the night.  I was shocked! This was one of the nicest homes in the neighborhood, well maintained, clean, updated and cared for.  Nothing is truly fire proof, some things are fire retardant but not fire proof. Fire is not discerning over how well built the home, the yearly income of the family within, how beautiful the landscaping or whether the owners have given their hearts to Christ.

Nor are our lives fire proof, our marriages, our careers, our relationships with our siblings-parents-children and our relationship with The Lord. I have watched as some have had a slow fade in their love of Christ, as other things become more important, other things become their "God".  The same with marriage! As the years tick by so many things become more important than our spouses.  And when we aren't lovable the other simply doesn't love.  Even when we have vowed to God before family and friends to love thru every circumstance, we just don't.  Over the last 20 years and 9 months believe me Brent and I have both been unlovable.  I marvel at the times when I know I don't deserve the love and tenderness my husband shows yet he acts as if he adores me as much as when we were newlywed.  His patience with me during these times is a blessing to my soul.  I can feel his prayers cover me.  I pray I make him feel this loved, understood and covered in prayer when he feels unlovable as well.  

Have you done all you can to fire proof your marriage? Do you love your spouse when he/she is unlovable? Have you taken your vow as a covenant that cannot be broken? Do you cover your spouse in prayer daily? I pray for Brent's health, mind, heart, soul, career, parenting, and anything else in going on in his life..... Like I said, nothing is 100% fire proof. We can't control others action or keep someone in a marriage nor should we stay in an abusive relationship.  But we have to give it our all.  In this world of disposable everything our marriages our not disposable.  Marriage should be treasured, nurtured, prayed over and laid at the foot of the cross. Drag in your prayer warriors to help you smother a smolder and above all don't bring in anyone or anything that sparks destruction.  Make a loving, happy Godly marriage a priority before your children, the children will benefit for life from your example.  And as the movie Fire Proof says "Never leave your partner in a fire."