The Road Less Traveled

I have been thinking about this metaphor, “marriage is a two-way street”. Just what does that mean? When I think of a two way street the cars are going the opposite direction. They may pass and wave on their journeys but they definitely are not going in the same direction, which is the way a marriage should be.

Others might say the metaphor means they are meeting in the middle, but why come from opposite directions? Why not walk hand in hand and work it out together? I find this metaphor to be a bit flawed.

Both people need to make the effort together. They need to work together on their marriage, not separately. The scripture says, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14, and I want to be walking hand in hand with my husband on that narrow road.

A husband and wife should be in one car together, they should be walking, talking and working together. They should be having fun together. They should be going in the same direction. They should have similar goals, dreams and visions. They should be working to become as one in Christ.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Gen 2:24, Matt 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31

Now that doesn’t mean that one person should lose their individuality but it does mean we should be supporting our spouse, cheering them on so they can reach their personal goals. It does not mean that one spouse doesn’t care what the other does or decides to go his or her own way in the relationship. That leads to destruction of the marriage.

“Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:3

Couples need to work together in mutual respect and kindness toward each other. This does not mean disagreements won’t happen but you shouldn’t come at each other like battering rams or jousters. You should sit or walk together in mutual respect and discuss things. Take a walk in a park, side by side, and talk things out as an example.

As wives I think we should share our personal dreams and visions for our marriage with our husbands and ask them to share theirs. Then take those ideas and create something that works for both of you. This may need revised from time to time but the goal is to become, as one is Christ.

So, stay off the two-way streets and find a nice cozy narrow road to walk down and share your dreams for your future with the man of your dreams.

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:14

Have a great weekend! God Bless ~ Kathleen Marie