"STAYING IN LOVE"
Pastors Rick and Sheila Floyd

The word "Love" is overly spoken and rarely understood. We say we love everything ranging from our spouses to a pair of shoes. However, no one ever references "till death do us part" concerning shoes. As much as we may enjoy shoes, we understand that shoes won't please you or test you nearly as much as your spouse will. When you understand this, you'll understand how important it is to always invest time and attention to cultivating a close and loving relationship with your spouse. Otherwise, you might put your spouse in the same category as you would a pair of shoes. This could cause you to experience a less than satisfying relationship with the one you chose to do life with. 

Falling in love with your spouse is one thing but staying in love is another. Staying in love requires relationship satisfaction. This involves aiming to fulfill each other's wishes, expectations and needs, and includes actively listening to each other. You don't stay in love just because you agree to stay together. You stay in love because it's pleasing to God and a planned priority in your life. 

Because selfishness has no place in a marriage, staying in love can't be one-sided. Staying in love requires knowing the thoughts, ideas, dreams and desires of each other, then attempting to please one another. Acceptance is also required. You must have grace for your spouse's weaknesses. When you first fell in love, you didn't focus so much on their weaknesses. To stay in love, you still can't focus on their weaknesses. Instead, pray for them, strengthen their weaknesses where you can, and continue to give grace where you cannot. 

To stay in love, you must have laughter and good communication. Staying in love requires you to be best of friends who care and share in romance. Courting one another is how romance starts, and it must continue if you expect romance to remain. What you did to get them is what you need to do to keep them. Romantic love reminds you of why you fell in love in the first place. Keeping the romance alive helps to lighten the burden of challenges that life often presents. Couples who stay in love continue to draw meaning and purpose from one another. Doing the work to stay in love will create devoted and sacred bonds that will strengthen your marriage spiritually, emotionally, socially and economically.

Pastors Ricky & Sheila Floyd