Here are the three essential skills of marriage and life.

Rejoicing

Life contains some great moments. It’s important to laugh, play, and experience the joy of living. Here are some of the reasons to celebrate: Finding a life partner, sexual pleasures, having a snuggle buddy in a storm, exploring new places together, getting promoted, buying a house, having someone to come home to, experiencing the birth of a child, holiday gatherings, and the changing seasons.

Grieving

Grieving with a spouse makes the pain a little easier. It’s a natural part of life. It involves experiencing many types of losses. You will experience moving away, losing best friends, having friends neglect and betray you, times of feeling so lonely, big events falling apart, dealing with sickness and aging, and people you love dying.

Growing

Life is one long growth journey. Growth areas include physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, vocational, financial, practical communication, and more. It’s best to always be a student in learning mode. Learning makes you feel alive and engaged. Your assignments are learning how to live well and learning how to die well.

Never stop rejoicing, grieving and growing.

Bible Connection

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (And keep growing and) bearing fruit.

See Romans 12:15, Colossians 1:10

Prayer

Father, thank you that you said you would be with me always. Through all of this, you are with me. Please give me wisdom. Amen.