Marriage (Nov/Dec 2018)

LIVES WORTH LEADING

WORTHY OF THE CALLING

DON’T HOPE FOR A GOOD MARRIAGE. DECIDE

BY COLIN MCCARTNEY

A

s we focus on marriage in this edition of Seven I can’t help but remember hearing a story about a man who was waiting to pick up his friend from the airport. As he waited and watched people walking out the exit area, he couldn’t help but notice the loud commotion in front of him as a man was greeted by his wife and three children.

They all were smiling from ear to ear so very excited to see each other.

This man immediately dropped his bags and motioned to one of his sons, who couldn’t have been more than six years old, to come on over and give him a big hug. It was a long hug and as they finally stopped he looked his son in the eyes and told him how he missed him so much. Then he gazed into the eyes of his older son who was about ten years old and cupped his face in his hands saying; “Zach you are becoming quite the young man. I love you so much, son”. Then they too gave each other a long hug.

During this tender hug, the man’s little daughter began to squirm in her mothers’ arms seeing the wonderful sight of her Daddy being back home.

The man reached out to grab his daughter and held her tightly saying; “Hi there my beautiful princess” and he then kissed her while holding her close to his chest. After a short time, he gave his daughter to his oldest son proclaiming; “Now, I saved the best to last.” And he gave his wife

AS YOU SEEK a passionate kiss then “What are you looking TO BE THAT stared her in the eyes while at?”

HUSBAND AND saying; “I love you. From The response was FATHER GOD seeing what was happening priceless, “My future.” you would have thought I share this story with CALLED YOU they were just newlyweds you to encourage you to TO REMEMBER but it was clear that decide to work hard in your THAT YOU because of their age and marriage. Don’t hope for their children’s ages that a good marriage, decide CANNOT GET they have been married for to have a good marriage THERE BY quite a while. by putting in some strong YOUR OWN In a display of genuine personal disciplines. amazement, the man who Remember, in order to have STRENGTH. was waiting to pick up his healthy families there must friend was surprised to hear first be healthy marriages. himself nervously ask this stranger; Not perfect marriages, but healthy “How long have you been married?” marriages, and this means you must “Twelve years,” responded the decide to make your marriage work. stranger.

So, as you seek to be that husband Then the question arose, “How long and father God called you to, remember have you been away?” that you cannot get there by your own The stranger turned and was still strength. Whatever you do remember, beaming his joyous smile, “Two whole “Don’t hope. Decide to have a great days!” marriage,” and afford yourself God’s “I hope my marriage is still that grace when you fail during the day. passionate after 12 years.” Came the Remember, this isn’t about you. It’s immediate response upon hearing how about Christ in you. short the length of time this man was away from his family.

The man stopped smiling and with / COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained great conviction and empathy declared, minister, speaker, and a bestselling “Don’t hope, friend… decide!” author. He is also the founder of Then he smiled again, shook UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads hands and said; “God bless!” And he Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, walked away with his family, hand his wife Judith, and their two children in hand with his wife and children. reside. For information in booking Colin While the man watched his friend as a speaker, please visit arrived and asked; www.connectministries.org.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 SEVEN 31