Chapter Excerpt
1
Prayers
A Newlywed’s Prayer
Lord, bless us and keep us always with You.
Open our eyes to see each other as You see us.
Open our hearts to love each other as You love us.
Open our minds to the wonder and mystery of who You are and of who You have created each of us to be.
And let us spend our lifetimes together.
—Sally Clark
Prayer for Fruit
O God, teach us to be always
freely giving, living in love.
Remind us often to voice praise
to each other and You above.
Let our love be ever joyful,
new, renewed every week and year.
Let us be content and peaceful,
Thrilled to sense You are very near.
May our love with patience expand
as we still wait on You in prayer.
With kindness let us lend a hand,
encouraging some other pair.
Show Your goodness through us, we pray
in words of love and generous acts.
Keep us faithful in every way,
shielded from devious attacks.
Let self-control and gentleness
channel our thoughts and feelings toward
whatever is true, right, and best:
may our union shine for You, Lord.
—Marjorie Gray
The Dark Side of Love
Lord, help us to survive the dark side of love,
the dark moments of marriage. Make us be
patient and forgive each other’s faults.
Every day may not be beautiful, but every day
will have something of love in it.
Do not let either one of us walk on eggshells
or want the last word all the time. When
the storm of anger is over, let us wait
patiently for the sun to shine again,
know that we belong together forever.
—Marion Schoeberlein
Spouses’ Prayer for Each Other
Dear God,
grant that I and my spouse may have a true
and understanding love for each other.
Grant that we may both
be filled with faith and trust.
Give us the grace to live
with each other in peace and harmony.
May we always bear with each other’s weaknesses
and grow from each other’s strengths.
Help us to forgive each other’s failings
and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness,
and the spirit of placing the well-being
of each other ahead of self.
May the love that brought us together
grow and mature with each passing year.
Bring us both ever closer to You
through our love for each other.
Let our love grow to perfection.
Amen.
—Author unknown
Prayer of the Military Wife
Dear God, I am proud to be wed to one who defends freedom and peace. My challenges are many and I pray for Your love and guidance to meet them. Special to me are the symbols representing my religion, country, community, and home. I pray for the wisdom and grace to be true to their meanings. You are the symbol of my religious beliefs and the source of my strength. Because my life is full of change, I cherish the solid and constant spiritual foundation that You provide. Help me, Lord, to be an example of Your teachings. My national flag represents freedom. Let me never forget, or take for granted, the hope it shows to the world. Bless those who have made sacrifices for freedom.
Please grant us Your continued blessings, increased strength, and infinite guidance as we live to Your honor and glory. Amen.
—Author unknown
Our Bond
When life moves us
away from each other
and we fail to remember
our delight in each other’s laughter,
the way our bodies suit
and complement each other,
times when we lifted
and held each other during storms
of need, disappointment, and loss,
strengthen our bond, Lord,
lest we forget
the love You gave us.
—Shirley Kobar
Expanding Hearts
Give us expanding hearts, Holy Creating Love,
hearts that can take in all the beauty
of the persons we love,
expanding to the full scope of their becoming,
extending through their time and space
to welcome all they are and will become,
their blossoming,
trials,
and full growth,
even their diminishment and death.
That is the lovingness to which we are called.
Grace us with hearts for love’s entire journey,
from mysterious sunrise
to mysterious sunset.
Amen.
—William Cleary
Living Realistically
Lord, teach us both to live realistically, to face life with gut-level honesty. God, give us the levelheadedness to accept failure, irritations, even anguish, as part and parcel of our spiritual growth. Help us to recognize that disagreements and differences are included in our family heritage. Remind us often that contentment is a blessing, not a contract; that emptying the trash or cleaning an oven creates more friction than fun, that a cold shower minus a song doesn’t always indicate regression. At least once in a while, dear Lord, we ought to be able to give vent to our moods without one of us suggesting personal counseling. Too often we cling to our storybook dream of living happily ever after. It will come true, Lord. But only in the home You’ve prepared for us. Until then, give us the maturity to accept and the willingness to wait.
—Johanna D. Spangenberg
Generosity of Spirit
There are times
I stubbornly
insist upon my will and way,
disregarding
the preferences and needs
of my partner and mate.
Bless us with generosity
of spirit and patience
to halt our inconsiderate endeavors;
hasty, hurtful words,
and see You
in the face of our beloved.
—Shirley Kobar
Marriage as Prayer
May your marriage be a prayer
that you offer to God
with open hearts
full of devotion.
May it glorify Him
and bring you a peace
that never ceases,
a strength that the world
cannot diminish.
—Darrell Lindsey
Compilation Copyright © 2007 by June Cotner Graves
