I asked a couple who was working on their marriage, “How will you know when your marriage is good enough?” A week later they responded with the following.
Our marriage will be good enough when:
1) We feel a growing sense of peace with each other and there is less ongoing tension in the air.
2) We are becoming better at encouraging each other to know and be ourselves, and to grow freely into our God-given purpose.
Read more...
4) We are growing both personally and as a couple by becoming more encouraging to each other without judgment.
5) We are fostering a spirit of God’s love by giving and receiving as much unconditional love as possible to and from each other, and to those around us.
6) We are settling less often and are living with an attitude that strives for and expects great things.
7) We are increasing in our ability to build each other up with words of affirmation, and to keep our marriage nourished and healthy by continually bringing positive energy and vitality to our relationship.
8) We are individually becoming more open to exploring and learning new things that help us gain richer and more fulfilling life experiences that we can share with each other.
9) We are striving to have a more balanced and healthier mind, body, and soul that enriches our relationship, while leaving room for imperfection.
10) We are growing in our ability to encourage each other to be the best we can be as individuals, and in our synergy as a couple.
11) We are leaving wonderful memories of love, laughter, forgiveness, and inspiration that will result in a life that is finished well.
After I read through this list, it occurred to me that all of these “good enough” criteria are not endpoints of perfection or a justification for complacency by being good enough. They speak to a relationship that is growing enough to be continuously improving and mutually satisfying.
If you and your spouse want to leave “wonderful memories of love, laughter, forgiveness, and inspiration that will result in a life that is finished well, how will you know when your marriage is growing enough?
Rick Mills
click here to close
