My wife and I celebrated our 24th anniversary two weeks ago. (Not in Hawaii unfortunately. This was for our 15th!) Here are a few things I have learned along the way:

1. There is no such thing as a perfect spouse, including and especially me.
2. The tough times can bring you closer together, if you respond in the right way.
3. You cannot change your spouse. You can make them a better person, but they are who they are.
4. My wife has been the one true friend I can always count on.
5. Even if you “win” an argument, no one really wins unless you settle the matter together and both of you are at peace.
6. Your parenting styles will probably differ a little, and this can cause conflict and inconsistent parenting if not dealt with properly.
7. In some ways, marriage gets easier as the years go by.
8. In some ways, marriage gets harder as the years go by.
9. People are watching your marriage. Just by sticking together you will stand out as a godly example for others to see.
10. It is better to talk openly about a disagreement and get it all out rather than sit and stew, or give the silent treatment.
11. If your walk with God is not right, it will affect how you treat your spouse.
12. Every sin you commit drives a wedge between you and your spouse.
13. Every confession you make to God diminishes a wedge between you and your spouse.
14. Praying with your spouse is one of the most difficult and humbling things you can do.
15. Praying for your spouse is one of the greatest things you can do for your marriage.
16. Don’t try to make your spouse better, focus on how you can be better.
17. Remember the cardinal rule for marriage, love covers a multitude of sins.
18. Your spouse will not complete you, only Jesus can do that.
19. Your spouse will not bring you true joy. Your spouse can make you happy, but only Jesus can give you deep and abiding joy.
20. If you are not intentional in your marriage, you can grow apart from your spouse. When you do, Satan sees an opportunity and will do all he can to wreck your marriage.
21. Dates are still important in a marriage. Take your spouse out to eat once a week or once a month.
22. Children can become the center of your marriage. Don’t let this happen. Children are not the center of your marriage. Your spouse comes before your children.
23. When you are married for a while, it is easy to run out of things to talk about. There is more to life than your kids and your job. Try to talk about something else at times.
24. It is easy, really easy, to take your spouse for granted. Don’t do it.