After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, “You know, I was a fool when I married you.” The husband replied, “Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn’t notice.”

My experience has shown me that ‘Marriages are made in heaven’ and pairs are pre-decided. They do not necessarily mean ‘perfect’ or ‘blissful’ relationship. We believe that we are the matchmakers. Is it a coincidence that two people, unknown to each other get united for life?

“Love will not sustain marriage; marriage will sustain love.” – Bonhoeffer

At a wedding in July, 2004 the following advice was offered. It is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer at his niece’s wedding. Bonhoeffer wrote from a Nazi concentration camp, prior to his hanging in April, 1945. “Love will not sustain marriage; marriage will sustain love.” Not a trendy idea, but one worth pondering.

“Mental compatibility is as important as physical compatibility.”

“The family that prays together stays together – not only in time; but in eternity.”

I am sure those readers unfamiliar with life in the Army might wonder what the above title is about. ‘Olive Green’ is the color of the uniform worn by the Indian Army.

While returning home to Australia after nine months with Action for Life, a nine month programme of IofC in Asia, I said this during the inevitable discussion on men that occurs amongst young female passengers on long plane trips. My fellow traveler's reaction was to burst out laughing, “A man of integrity – you can’t be serious – do they even exist!”

“I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden,
Along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometime,
When you get, you gotta give, you’ve gotta live and let live oh, oh, oh ...”

John Lester gives a Christian perspective on marriage.

MY SEVEN-year-old son became really worried by the time I had won seven old pence on a machine in a seaside arcade, many years ago. ‘Stop it, Mum!’ he yelled, pulling me away. I did.