After 57 years, I’ve learned MARRIED LOVE takes many forms!

There is, of course, PHYSICAL LOVE. This is the usual spark that begins the relationship.

The SOMEONE-CARES kind of love. This brings a feeling of self-worth.

MUTUAL LOVE OF OFFSPRING. It is a shared responsibility and a source of joy unique to the two of you.

THE FORGIVING LOVE. There will always be various irritants in the relationship. They must be forgiven.

The THANKFUL LOVE. If you have someone who truly loves and accepts you, be eternally thankful.

The EQUAL-EFFORT LOVE. It takes two horses to pull the carriage. If the love is real, both partners must embrace the tasks at hand.

The FREQUENT EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE. Don’t you dare let it get stale. Keep it alive!

My partner of 57 years has taught me what MARRIED LOVE is!

Practice all these various forms regularly!

If not today, when?

…….a gift.

It is not earned!

Every single aspect of how our bodies function was formed inside our mothers body.

How is it that, with the instant of birth, we began to breathe on our own?

We could see and hear and express ourselves verbally.

None of these miracles were the result of our efforts.

No, they were a gift from God working through our parents.

So, do you greet each morning with undying gratitude for the miracle of your existence?

Or, would you rather complain about what’s not right with your life?

I prefer the former instead of the latter!

BE THANKFUL!!!!!!

If not today, when?

I had designed a five day conference for all of our 54 branch managers from around the U.S.

The preparation and execution of the conference was exhausting!

When I got home on Friday evening, all six of our kids were seated in the living room.

My wife greeted me at the door and asked me to be seated.

She announced that she called the president of our company earlier, unbeknownst to me.

She asked him if I could have the following week off.

He approved her request.

She said that the car was packed with our bags and that we were staying at a hotel at Detroit Metropolitan Airport that night.

The next morning, we would be flying nonstop to Nassau in the Bahamas for seven days!

It was a great moment that occupies the JOY side of my memory!

Surprise your spouse.

If not today, when?

Dictionary Definition: “ADAPTABLE-Able to adjust to new conditions.”

Well, are you?

This is a rapidly changing world that will leave you behind if you’re not paying attention.

You and your children are witnessing an assault on the value system you’ve tried to live by.

Climate change is really happening.

With the advent of cell phones and computers, we are all deluged with destructive social media messages.

Our politicians have become more selfish and less patriotic than ever before.

Honesty is becoming a rarer commodity.

So, how will you adapt to these new realities while holding onto those values most dear to you?

The first step is to question your information because some of it is deliberate misinformation.

Understand what’s happening and how these changes affect you and your loved ones.

Don’t become a follower when confronted by those who would lead you astray.

If not today, when?

Is your family “A SAFE PLACE” that protects you from a harsh world?

If not, why not?

Dictionary Definition: “FAMILY-Having someone to love you unconditionally in spite of you and your shortcomings!”

Unfortunately, some families are in turmoil and are the opposite of “A SAFE PLACE!”

This does not need to be a permanent condition.

Old grudges can and should be set aside and replaced with FAMILY UNITY.

Also, at different times various family members experience emotional, physical or psychological pain.

At that moment, the family must become a source of healing.

With our present-day society in chaos, our families must always be A PORT IN THE STORM!

It’s never too late to make that happen.

And maybe that necessary healing begins with YOU!

If not today, when?

To make a mistake is one thing.

To carry the regret forever is another thing entirely.

We all make mistakes, but not everyone allows it to cripple their self-esteem.

The strength of your self-esteem governs the way you make future decisions.

If you believe in yourself, you’ll make different decisions than if you replace self-esteem with self-doubt.

Fortunately, you have control over how you feel about yourself.

If someone, particularly a loved one, criticizes you unfairly, that’s their problem.

Don’t allow anyone to diminish your love of self.

Your self-esteem belongs to you. That’s why it begins with the word, SELF.

Self-esteem is a big determinant of a happy or unhappy life!

That’s why it is SO PRECIOUS and must be nurtured and DEFENDED!

If not today, when?

We all need family!

Our family’s motto is, “FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!”

Although comprised of imperfect people, it is our refuge.

Families come in various shapes and sizes.

Most are the traditional type, some are not.

Some are created by circumstances, others by birth.

For the sake of this discussion, let’s include all types.

Families don’t always stay together without weaving the THREAD OF LOVE.

Every family member should decide to become a weaver.

Even in times of this pandemic, we have tools available for weaving ourselves together.

We have computers and cellphones which magically can help us talk, text. email or Zoom loved ones.

Recently, one of our family members created a texting address that reaches all our family members.

This THREAD OF LOVE keeps every member informed on all the issues that are front and center.

Don’t take your family for granted.

Get and stay involved by weaving the THREAD OF LOVE that holds you all together!

If not today, when?

All of us experience fear from time-to-time.

Sometimes it is justified by events.

Sometimes it is created by our imagination with no basis in fact.

JUSTIFIED FEAR

A very prevalent justified fear is fear of losing a loved one to Covid 19.

I met a man two days ago who had lost four family members to the pandemic.

If the fear is based on real facts, all we can do is ask ourselves if we can solve the problem in some way.

I am also a firm believer in the POWER OF PRAYER

IMAGINED FEAR

I refer to this kind of fear as WHAT IF.

This type of fear is created without a basis in fact.

Yet, many people live with these DREAMED UP fears all their lives.

Don’t do that!

There are enough actual happenings to be concerned about without dreaming up new ones!

If you’re going into marriage with the idea that each partner must contribute 50% of the effort required, the marriage is DOOMED!

There will always be situations in which one partner must give more than 50%.

For a good marriage to prosper, each partner must be “ALL IN.”

This definitely means NOT KEEPING SCORE!

If the marital relationship is real love, then the focus should not be on satisfying your needs as much as satisfying the needs of your loved one and any children that may come along.

Is your married partner “THE CENTER OF YOUR UNIVERSE?“

And do you ACT LIKE IT?

The promise to love for a LIFETIME is the biggest commitment a person can make.

A promise of that magnitude deserves an “ALL IN” effort by both parties!

If not today, when?

Today, there are an abundance of lies, deliberate misinformation and crazy conspiracy theories.

What are we to believe with this deluge of nonsense?

Well, for me, it’s an easy choice.

I BELIEVE IN LOVE!

It’s the only thing that’s real and lasting.

Love takes many forms.

There is the love of KINDNESS!

There is the love of LOYALTY!

There is the love of FORGIVENESS!

There is the love of COMPASSION!

There is the love of INCLUSION!

There is the love of a PARENT!

There is the love of OUR CHILD!

There is the love of OUR SPOUSE!

There is the love of a SIBLING!

There is the love of a PATRIOT!

There is the love of SELF!

There is the love of OUR GOD!

There is the love of a STRANGER!

There is the love of the OUTCAST!

There is the love that is UNCONDITIONAL!

Jesus said: “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!”

So, what are we here for if not to love?

If not today, when?