Marriage isn't perfect. It's the union of two unperfect people trying to find their way through life together. You and your spouse are bound to make mistakes at one point or another. The key to having a successful marriage lies with two basic principles: love and forgiveness.
Once you learn how to apply them in your life, your marriage will be free of the trivial things that could tear you and your spouse apart.
Love your spouse for their mistakes
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." Bruce Lee
Love encompasses so many things. There is familial love, friendly love and romantic love - but there's nothing stronger than being able to love someone just the way they are. The ability to love someone for both their strengths and weaknesses isn't easy, but it's necessary.
When it comes to marriage it's important to remember to love your spouse for their mistakes. Love requires you to see past their faults. The best thing you can do for your spouse is to love them just the way they are, despite their faults, weaknesses and mistakes they have made.
None of us are perfect. Having the ability to love someone despite their mistakes breathes new life into a relationship. Your spouse should be able to do the same for you. If you make a mistake, you don't want to be judged for that mistake, especially by your spouse. Your spouse must be able to love you no matter the mistakes you've made or the faults and weaknesses you have. This form of love will only bring you two closer together.
Love is unconditional. Therefore, you should be able to love your spouse through thick and thin. No matter what trials or challenges you face, don't allow your mistakes or your spouse's mistakes to keep you from loving unconditionally.
Be forgiving
"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies." Martin Luther King. Jr.
Not all mistakes will be easy to forgive. But most can be. Being able to forgive someone or yourself doesn't come easy, but it's something that we all must learn to do. There is nothing worse than being unable to forgive. It only breeds guilt, sorrow, hurt and hard feelings. Forgiveness dispels all of those negative feelings and allows hearts to be healed.
Forgiveness is founded on the principle of love. If you cannot forgive, you lack the ability to love fully and unconditionally. A healthy relationship allows forgiveness, which will let unconditional love take root in your marriage.
The worst thing you or your spouse can do is hold a grudge. A grudge will only drive the two of you apart. Sometimes, forgiveness means you must be the one to take the first step. Any first step is a good step. It may take time to be fully forgiven, but working with your spouse toward having full forgiveness will help your hearts to heal.
Having the ability to love your spouse for their mistakes and forgive will allow you to work past your differences and bring you closer together. A marriage that allows for love and forgiveness is sure to last forever.
