Advice to My Younger {Married} Self — Part 2

John and I haven’t had a perfect marriage. Far from it! There have been struggles over the years, but I’m so happy that we decided to fight FOR our marriage instead of fighting against each other. I shared a few marriage tips I’ve learned along the way a few weeks ago here. I asked YOU to share what advice you’d give your younger married self. Here is the second part of your great answers:

1. You know that perfect comeback you are forming in your mind? Keep it in your mind and not in your mouth! — Tracie

2. You both make mistakes because you are both human… forgive, forgive, forgive, talk, talk, talk… tomorrow is another day, don’t hold grudges, give freely, listen (really listen), remember why you fell in love, no expectations only experiences, know that you can never change another human only they can and only God can change you, focus on the blessings of everyday life. — Traci

3. Don’t share marital problems to relatives. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Focus on God and everything else will fall in line. Fix yourself and how you react, you can only change yourself. — Toni

4. Make it work. — Tammy

5. Always seek Jesus first. He is the Captain and the Rudder on the Marriage Ship! — Elaine

6. Don’t imagine that you are going have this perfect life, with a perfect house and perfect children. Life is not a magazine, it is real living with real people and often things are a struggle. Expect difficulties and develop the spiritual and emotional muscles to deal with them – that way you wont be knocked over when hardship comes your way. — Trish

7. Always look with in yourself first before judgment on your husband. We are not perfect either. — Renee

8. Don’t try to fix him, only God can do that. Just try to be the wife that God wants you to be. — Jennie

9. Keep valuing yourself as much as your husband and tend to your own needs because no one else will. — Christine

10. Don’t stop dating, open honest communication, shared interests, serve each other (selflessness), have fun, don’t give up, have God at the Center of the relationship. — Marnie

11. Do not try to put your husband in the place that only Christ can fill. ONLY Christ can be your emotional and spiritual joy. No human being is capable, and you set your husband up for a fall by expecting it. — Allison

12. Submission does not mean “doormat”…. and it’s God’s plan to make your marriage work as it should, so go for it! — Betty

13. Love is a decision. When it gets hard, you have to choose to have healthy conflict resolution. The process is hard, but the rewards are worth it. — Nichole

14. Every moment is an investment into your future relationship. Choose wisely. — Janet

15. Love your husband for who God created him to be, not for who you want him to be! — Lisa

16. Every disagreement isn’t the end. Learn to let the little things that bug you go. — Tammy

17. “In a marriage, being the right person is as important as finding the right person.” W.D. Gough — Connie

18. Marriage isn’t 50/50, marriage is 100/100 all the time. Because it takes all of your very being to deal day in and day out of living breathing and working side by side with this person you have chosen to love. — Gwyn

19. Remember you are marrying a fellow sinner! Practice lots of grace. — Kathy

20. Realize you both have expectations. Realize most of them are unrealistic and based on observing what you think to be real in others’ lives and on TV/in movies/in books. Drop the expectations and trust God to fill the gaps. Let Jesus be the Lover of your soul. Know that God will either grow your spouse and you in areas where you need to grow and change or He will be what you need for each other in the “lacking” areas instead. And that’s ok. Better than ok. It’s His perfect way. Now relax and enjoy each other the best you can. Faults and all. — Haelie

21. Communicate when you’re needing to say something instead of keeping it all inside. It’s okay to say, “I’m sorry” first… It won’t kill you. Him leaving the cupboard doors open after he’s gotten something out isn’t something worth getting upset about. Just close them and move on. —Katie

22. Place the things you want to blame him with and argue about at Jesus feet. Use the time you would have used to argue to just love him. In the meantime Jesus is working it out. — Tracey

23. Never never never never let the sun set on your anger. Eph. 4:26 (paraphrased LOL) — Stephanie

24. Wait and have some time as a couple before you are parents though I dearly love all 3 of mine. —Patricia

25. Realize you may not always “like” each other but you always honor the promise before God to love each other. — Sheila

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”