Continue from last Sunday.

      Marriage is not a part-time programme hence, before you go into it, you have to seek God’s will and protection. There is need to pray on daily basis to God to protect and preserve your marriage. Look unto God for He is ready to see you through. I have not seen any marriage without hiccups but when husband and wife work together, they forge ahead easily.

      God is our potter and we the clay: He decides who should be a man and who should be a woman. He made Adam the man and Eve, the woman. So, Adam should not see himself as god and Eve a thing. Neither should Eve say, Adams life cannot know joy and peace without her!

      There is the need for every couple to see the Holy Family as a model. Joseph and Our Blessed Mother Mary will guide your marriage if only you seek their counselling and intercession. Husband and wife need the wisdom of Blessed Mother Mary and St Joseph to enable them excel in marriage.

       The best time to stop unnecessary argument is to stop before it starts. In Kano, on 25th February 2019 at 8pm, Rashida was angry with her husband, Adamu when she suspected that he was having a phone conversation with his girlfriend. When she attempted to snatch the phone from him, she mistakenly pushed him from the stairs and he fell and died.  If you cannot forgive the wrong done to you by your spouse, why do you expect God whom you sin against daily to forgive you your sins?  “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34.

      One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody every offence committed against you every night before you go to bed. Yes, do not wait till the following day because today is certain and tomorrow may not be. And Barack Obama said, “A good wife always forgives her husband when she’s wronged.” But how did Eve react when her action brought misfortune to her marriage?” And Steve Jobs said, “When you are in love, wonders happen. But once you get married, you wonder what happened.”

       It is not possible to marry a perfect person but you can help your partner to work towards perfection as you journey together in your marriage. Let the weak admit that he/she is weak and let the strong zealously help the weak for the good of your union. If you cannot win, make the one ahead of you break the record.” John Masson.

       “What God has join together, let no one put asunder.” So, shine your eyes and avoid distractions from all walks of life.  It is when your marriage is prosperous that the devil would like to bring obstacles to your marriage through any means like he did to Adam and Eve. When afflictions come, most couples will forget the content of their marriage vows and betray each other to the joy of their enemies. Those who are wise would run to God for protection and refuge. “Before I was afflicted, I went astray but now, I keep your word” Ps 119:67. What you don’t admit cannot become your reality.

       “Stop looking at where you have been and start looking at where you can be.” Mike Murdock. Stop discussing your partner’s virtues and vices with outsiders: Out of jealousy or hatred, they may destroy your marriage. Agnes told her best friend, Rosanna her husband’s weaknesses and how she had battled and defeated his concubines because of his romantic nature. Two weeks later, Agnes caught Rosanna sleeping with her husband on her matrimonial bed. When she attempted to fight them, they beat her mercilessly: then her husband divorced her and marry her friend, Rosanna. Jesus said in Luke 16:18, “Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery; and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

      What are you passing through in your marriage life that is likely to carry you away? Tell it to Jesus who died to save you, he cares for you. “Do not let your passions carry you away; this can tear your soul to pieces like a bull. You will be left like a dead tree without any leaves or fruit” Sirach 6:2-3. In marriage, spouses need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to enable them love each other perfectly as one flesh.

      Your partner should be your closest friend apart from God: Give him/her the benefit of doubt when a cloudy situation occurs. Do not allow pride, ignorance, etc. to ruin the sweet relationship you built over the years. In marriage, there is need for one to be conscious of his/her partner’s feelings and needs.

        If you make yourself the horse rider and your partner the horse, before long you will realize that the horse has the right to decide who rides him/her. Learn to say, “I’m sorry” when you are wrong. Be a model to those around you. People are watching you: So, why not leave a legacy for them.

      Do all you can to prevent your spouse from falling: Eve created a gap for the snake to influence her to disobey God, thereby bringing punishment on humanity! So, do not bring misfortune to your husband or wife; rather lead him or her to obey God’s command and God will reward you. “If you love me you will obey my commandment.” John 14:15.

      “Your righteousness will last forever, and your law is always true. I am filled with trouble and anxiety, but your commandments bring me joy. The wicked will not be saved, for they do not obey your laws. Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall.” Psalm 119:142-143, 155,164.