A THREE-LEGGED RACE

A THREE-LEGGED RACE

WHEN AN ANGRY GENERAL, Abner, abandoned the family of Saul to support David as the new king of Israel, he told David, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you” (2Samuel 3:12).  David readily agreed because he knew he could use all the help he could get.

So can you, especially in your marriage.  To be successful in marriage, ultimately  both of you must agree to head in the same direction.  The Roman philosopher Seneca said, “You must know for which harbor you are headed if you are to catch the right wind to take you there.”

Among some of my most valued childhood memories, are the family picnics we held every summer.  These were no small get-togethers, but gatherings of all my aunts and uncles along with what seemed like dozens of cousins.  I played all kinds of games with my cousins, including the three legged race, which was everyone’s favorite.  Locked arm in arm and stepping in unison, contestants made rapid progress towards the finish line.  They might stumble and fall, but they always got there faster and more efficiently than if they had been paired facing opposite ways (which we also did sometimes, just for fun).

Marriage is a lot like a three-legged race.  You can run it facing the in the same direction, locking arms and trying to stay in step with your partner or you can run the race facing in totally different directions and constantly stumble and fall.  The main question is: Do you want to win?  If so, determine what the real finish line is, lock your arms together, match strides with each other, and run the race as one.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed.