L e t m e f i r s t s t a r t b y i n t r o d u c i n g o u r s e l v e s . W e a r e D r . S t e p h e n a n d R e v . L o r n a M e n d o z a f r o m t h e t w i n i s l a n d s s t a t e o f T r i n i d a d a n d T o b a g o . W e h a v e b e e n m a r r i a g e c o u n s e l o r s f o r o v e r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s .
I c h o s e t o p r o d u c e a l l m y m a r r i a g e m a t e r i a l s u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f o u r c o m p a n y c a l l e d " M A R R I E D T O A N A N G E L " b e c a u s e m y m o t h e r r e f e r r e d t o h e r h u s b a n d , m y d a d , a s a n a n g e l . S h e c a l l e d h i m a n a n g e l b e c a u s e o f t h e c a r e a n d l o v e h e s h o w e d t o h e r . M y p a r e n t s , H y p o l i t e a n d T h e r e s a M e n d o z a , w e r e m a r r i e d f o r o v e r s i x t y - t w o y e a r s b e f o r e m y m o m p a s s e d . T h e y p r o d u c e d t e n c h i l d r e n f r o m t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p . M y p a r e n t s s p e n t a p p r o x i m a t e l y h a l f t h e i r m a r r i a g e l i v i n g u n d e r c o n s i d e r a b l e f i n a n c i a l c o n s t r a i n t s . Y e t , s o m e o f t h e m o s t m e m o r a b l e t h i n g s t h a t I c a n r e m e m b e r w h i l e g r o w i n g u p w o u l d b e t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g p r e s e n c e o f l o v e a n d l a u g h t e r . E v e n w i t h s u c h s e v e r e f i n a n c i a l c o n s t r a i n t s a n d t e n c h i l d r e n t o l o o k a f t e r , m y p a r e n t s m a n a g e d t o k e e p a m a r r i a g e f u l l o f b l i s s .
L o r n a i s m y A n g e l , a n d I a m h e r s . W e r e a l l y d o h a v e a w o n d e r f u l m a r r i a g e f u l l o f b l i s s a n d a r e a l w a y s o p e n t o n e w t h i n g s t h a t w i l l e n h a n c e o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p . I b e l i e v e t h e j o y o f m a r r y i n g h e r i s s e c o n d o n l y t o m y r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h C h r i s t .
So why are we so “gung-ho” on angelic marriages? Have you ever heard people refer to their spouses as devils? We have had children of church members tell me to be weary of their parents who look saintly in church but are devils as soon as they reach home. Many wives and husbands have labeled their spouses as devils based on their behavior towards them. Many homes are plagued with domestic violence and verbal abuse that they describe their marriage as a living hell or sleeping with the devil. However, when a spouse treats his or her partner very well, lovingly, selflessly, as God’s gift what type of accolades do you expect?
If a person manifests very godlike characteristics, we find no difficulty in calling them an angel; especially when they respond to our deepest need selflessly and timely. Your marriage can be heavenly. That is not farfetched, nor is it boring. I have prayed for a marriage like that of my parents, I believe the Lord has kindly given me. Why don’t you try to be an angel in your marriage and make your home a heavenly place?
Depending on your age you would have heard the hit song “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” released by the Tavares in 1976.
