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A marriage is a meeting of the hearts, minds and souls of two separate people who make a choice to spend the rest of their lives together. Many people don't take that role seriously enough. Going into a marriage knowing that it is extremely easy to end it whenever we choose is the wrong way to enter into a lifelong contract. What makes a great marriage is when both people go into the marriage feeling as though there is no turning back.

There is much more to a marriage than repeating your vows during the matrimonial service. It is hard work to say the least. You are taking an entirely whole other being as a part of yourself. Treat your husband/wife the exact way in which you want them to treat you. With that, you will have a long lasting and true relationship with your spouse.

Here are some thoughts as to what makes a marriage great:

Love

Without love, your marriage will sink to the bottom of the sea never to resurface. Love is the rock that stands solid in any relationship. Without that in your marital relationship, you have no rock to build a solid foundation.

Trust

Trust must be given and received. It must be earned, not take for granted. If you want your spouse to trust you, behave in a trustworthy manner. Do what you say you are going to. Do not falter from trust and it will return the favor to you.

Honesty

If you are honest with your husband/wife, your life together will last for many years to come. Lying to your spouse leads to his/her mistrust of you. That leads to bigger things and eventually it can destroy what was once the perfect relationship.

Understanding

Givi ng your partner understanding in times of need will strengthen your marriage beyond anything else. There may be times that it's hard to understand your husband/wife, but you must make every effort to do so.

Don't Expect Perfection

Too many people expect far too much from those they love. Be different from that. If you expect your partner to be perfect, you will be disappointed. All of this leads back to the beginning regarding love. Love is accepting people even when they are imperfect.

Give More Than You Receive

There is a great deal to be said for being a giver. It is far better to give more to someone else than to have them give more to you. If both of you act on this one thing, you will both come out winners. It is called sharing the burdens and sharing the joys. There will be plenty of each.

Stay Faithful

Remember that you have taken vows to be true to one person for the rest of your life. Infidelity is a marriage killer. It brings an entirely new face into a picture that is only meant for two. Once you do that, you cannot take it back. It will always be there no matter what the end result is. Dishonoring the one that you promised endless love to will surely do permanent damage to the marriage.

Be Thoughtful

Every now and then, pick her up a dozen roses just because you love her. Every now and then surprise him with tickets to see his favorite team in action. Cuddle on the couch and give each other hugs. Don't forget the spark that began your relationship.

Making a marriage great is completely up to you. If you give all that you have to the partnership, it will be worth it's weight in gold. Don't give up on the marriage simply because something goes wrong. Things go wrong in every relationship. Work through it. It's well worth looking back after fifty years and being able to say "We made it together".

Learn more about this author, Dawn Hawkins.
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