thoughts on marriage

"most people get married believing a myth that marriage is beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for; companionship, intimacy, friendship etc … the truth is, that marriage at the start is an empty box, you must put something in before you can take anything out. there is no love in marriage, love is in people, and people put love in marriage. there is no romance in marriage, you have to infuse it into your marriage. a couple must learn the art, and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, of keeping the box full. if you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty."

quote found here. 

i stumbled upon this quote the other day and it really resonated with me. it caused me to stop and ponder a bit...to reflect on my own marriage and my relationship with andrew.

i whole-heartedly respect the idea that marriage is something that requires the two people involved to constantly fill and keep full their box to gain any sort of satisfaction from it.  however, filling one's box should never be a chore to check of your list of to-do's, nor should it come with unrealistic expectations.  i know that is easier said than done, but i have found that the more you selflessly put in to your relationship, the more both of you will get out of it and grow as a couple.  i suppose that goes for any relationship.  nourishing it must be a priority.  it must be the forefront of everything.  because without that solid foundation of love, nothing else will fall into place.  you would not neglect a plant and expect it to grow, would you?  just some things to think about.   

to the person who not only makes my life whole, but enriches the cruddy moments into laughable afterthoughts, and makes me feel like the best, most beautiful mama in the world: i love you completely with every fibre in my being.  so much i feel as though i could burst.  i will spend my forevers happily filling our marriage box, putting more into it that i will ever expect to get out, tending to it with honest intention and thoughtful purpose.  i vow to help keep it not only brimming full, but overflowing.  for always.