Until Death Do Us Part

Authors: J.B. and Shugie
Source: Marriage Matters

A close relative of mine was married to a fine guy for 42 years. Barbara and Ray had a storybook kind of marriage. They didn't live a fairytale; rather they lived their lives so that there was no doubt in their children's minds, or in the mind of anyone who knew them, where they stood. Their relationship was intact and strong. Ray died last week after a short but hard battle with leukemia.

Things I Learned Watching Them:

1. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Ray and Barbara were always so positive and had joy. They were always happy and upbeat. They loved life. They gave all they had to enjoying their children and grandchildren.

2. Keep loving each other. Ray always loved Barbara and the feeling was always the same. She loved him unconditionally and he did her!

3. Keep close to the Lord and try to argue less! Their daughter stood and shared about her dad and talked about their marriage. She said that she and her brother had never heard their parents argue. It was not that they argued behind closed doors…they just didn't argue.

4. Let the kids see you reading your Bible. I have a quiet time but my kids did not often witness it. Let them see you making God's Word the most important thing you do in the day.

5. Be a godly example. Follow Christ and His teachings and let them permeate your heart and life. May your actions speak volumes of who you are.

6. Show kindly affection toward others. Make your life count as a person and as a couple. Give so that others see your good works and glorify God as a result!

7. Make friends along the way who will see you through the hard times. We all need other people. We need to reach out to others using our home as a tool.

We have lived near neighbors before who never had "strange cars" in front of their home! In contrast, our neighbors must think we are party people because we have "strange cars" at our house all the time!

8. Show your devotion to your spouse by letting your children know how very important he or she is to you. Always let your spouse know they are the most important person in life to you after your relationship with the Lord.

9. Spend quality time with your family. All the hobbies in the world and all the things that we can play with don't amount to much in the end. Our wives and children won't talk about the time we spent at the golf course or hunting or fishing!

10. When the end comes, I hope everyone realizes there was something different about your life, your marriage, your family, and your friends! May all who come behind us truly find us faithful!

We preach a sermon with our lives daily. I want mine to count. Do you?

J.B. and Shugie



The Collingsworths travel around the country, coaching churches and couples on how to build strong marriages. Their ministry is based in the Dallas/Fort

Worth Metroplex. If you are interested in having them speak at your church, contact them at 1(800)404-MAFM (6361).