Crazy Math
By Deb DeArmond
Marriage is a
two-for.
You know what a
two-for is, don’t you? You buy one, get one for free. When you marry your
sweetheart, you actually get more than just
one free. You get an entire additional family. What a bargain!
April is National
Math Awareness Month. Apparently, some of us weren’t paying attention when that
celebration rolled our way. Mama told me, “Marry the man, marry the family.”
But the marriage
math doesn’t end there. “And the two shall become one flesh. Since they are no
longer two, but one” (Mark 10:8 NIV). Do the Math Awareness people have that
one figured out? I doubt it.
God planned this unique mathematical equation: 1+1=1. If it sounds
impossible, it’s not. But it’s not simple, either. I’ve been married 37 years.
When people ask how we’ve managed to stay together, happy all these years, I
reply, “I travel a lot.” We joke that after all these years, Ron’s concluded
it’s “cheaper to keep her.” A sense of humor probably doesn’t hurt either.
We’ve agreed to take marriage seriously, and ourselves less so. It’s hard to
stay mad when you’re laughing.
God knew it wouldn’t be easy for us to set aside our “me first” human
nature and put things in biblical order. God expects to be first, and wants our
spouse to be next in priority. Romans 12 reminds us, “in honor give preference
to one another.” That puts me in spot number three in my life, running contrary
to my selfish nature. But if I prefer my husband and he prefers me, we are each
well cared for and the relationship is in order as together we submit to God.
But if I get just one item out of order—my job, or friends, even my kids—the
math equation begins to come apart.
The good news is that God is there when we forget how to add it up.
And since He created marriage, He has provided the manual on how to care for it
and how to repair it when needed.
So go to the author of the instruction manual on marriage. The one who
believed it possible, if not easy, to create one from two. “Since they are no
longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together”
(Matthew 19:6). Although this sounds like a warning against outside influences,
it’s also a reminder to couples that even we do not have God’s approval to blow
up our marriages when things get tough.
Marriage. Crazy math. Questions? Go to the great mathematician. He’s
got it solved.
Deb DeArmond Bio:
Deb DeArmond is an expert in the fields of
communication, relationship and conflict resolution. A writer and professional
speaker, Deb focuses on topics related to the family and women. Kregel
publications will release her first book in early 2014, focused on relationships
between women-in-law. Read Deb at http://debdearmond.com
This
article content is provided free of charge by the author through
Kathy
Carlton Willis Communications. Y
