Landscaping is something that we don’t think much about but subconsciously we are very appreciative of it.
When a home is placed on the market for sale, the seller is told is to ensure that the house has a neat and clean appearance to prepare for potential buyers to view the home. The landscape of the home should have “curb appeal” to encourage the viewers to purchase. Any good realtor will tell you that “curb appeal” is critical when attempting to sell.
So what does landscaping and selling a home have to do with having a marriage that blooms …?
A lot. The appeal of a house is a direct correlation to why it moves off of the market successfully. Some singles have not been “sold on marriage” as a result of how it has been presented.
There are some key factors that we’d like to highlight to prepare for a marriage that will bloom. Let’s dig into our meaning of the word bloom …
Be intentional
In a marriage or any relationship, the basis for its success is how the participant in the marriage or relationship values or views their role in that relationship. The view or image we have of ourselves and how we perform our role in the relationship is critical.
If we desire to be kinder, more responsive, more loving in our relationships, it’s important to set our intention on doing these things and actually practicing them. Setting our intention is nothing more than making the decision to something and then seeing that decision all the way through.
It may help to have reminders posted in places that we frequent so that when we see them, it helps us to keep our minds set on our intended behavior or characteristics. It has been said that it takes about 21 days for a behavior to become a habit. Let’s try it.
Lay out the plan
Have you heard the saying “write the vision and make it plain”? If not, the saying derived from Scripture — Habakkuk 2:2.
It is very important for our marriages to have a vision, purpose, and goal. The goal in marriage is to portray a beautiful picture of the gospel. To further elaborate, the two individuals in marriage are to become one flesh, thus united in love and a display of God’s love for us as we sacrifice for one another consistently. This mission to look more like Christ should be our goal through marriage and it should be sought with patience and joy, for God’s glory.
Organic
The word organic is defined as relating to or derived from living organisms. Many people are now starting to eat organic fruits and vegetables to prevent eating foods that have been chemically enhanced and altered. Consuming foods that have chemicals is a growing concern as researchers are saying that certain chemicals ingested from chemically enhanced foods can cause cancer.
Hebrews 4:12 references the word of God as living. The word of God is living, breathing, and active.
It is very important that you and your spouse be “planted” in a church that opens up the Bible. Fellowship with the Word of God will, in turn, cause your marriage to be alive yielding produce that will guard it against “poisoning” the perception of marriage for others, or weakening the witness of marriage.
Onset
Please know that attacks will be made against your marriage. Satan hates marriage and he uses various tools to attack.
One of the biggest enemies of marriage can be social media.
There are many negative connotations of marriage are portrayed on social media. There is easy access to individuals who can be of interest to a spouse and we must be a help to ourselves and loved ones to guard against individuals who may not honor the sanctity of marriage.
The key here is to not be naive when it comes to an attack against your marriage. We must be on guard to prevent the onset of calamity. Anything that seems to be a threat should be handled as such and with urgency and care. We must be cautious not to attack our spouses as they are not the enemy. Be diligent to identify the real enemy and go to combat together.
Maintain
Marriage requires maintenance if it is to remain beautiful and flourish.
Like any beautifully landscaped lawn, our marriages must be well manicured. Weeds must be pulled, leaves cut and hedges trimmed. A blooming marriage takes patience, love, and care.
Remember that neither you nor your spouse is perfect. Be kind and loving to one another because these simple truths can make such a meaningful and lasting difference in the life and growth of your marriage.
Seeds
After a designated amount of time, your marriage will yield fruit. In order to have a marriage that blooms and continues to do so, seeds must be planted.
The testimony of success in your marriage is a seed that is planted in the hearts of others watching your love. People may watch you two from afar or ask what it is that you are doing to have such a great marriage. The seeds that you sow by modeling a marriage that blooms will, in turn, encourage others to produce a marriage that will also bloom.
A marriage that blooms is within our grasp. Let’s get to planting and cultivating more love in our marriages and spreading seeds of hope through our example for believers that desire marriage.
