Spring Renewal

It’s spring. The time of renewal. Everything is coming back to life. My flower garden is blooming. A robin is sitting in her nest by the front door.

We go through many seasons in our marriages. This life partnership starts with the intoxicating spring of blossoming love. It’s so wonderful! Our hearts are full and we want to spend the rest of our lives together.

This stage of euphoric obsession with each other lasts on average, according to Dr. Chapman, the author of The Five Love Languages, about two years. During this period of euphoria, we focus on the good and dismiss potential problems. But as time goes on, reality sets in, things we overlooked can start to bug us, our focus can change, and what we once ignored can become all we see. That wonderful euphoric love then fades and we are left in a winter of discontent.

How do we bring our marriage back into the renewal of spring?

• Refocus on the good and allow it to come to the fore again.

• Release our spouse to God so that He can work unhindered in our relationship.

• Renew, grow where we are planted so that we can love out of our true self and experience spring’s renewal.

My husband, Andy, and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. We have experienced all four seasons in our marriage. But this summer is the best!

What season is your marriage in?