{"id":859,"date":"2023-01-17T21:16:49","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T21:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/?p=859"},"modified":"2023-09-21T20:15:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T20:15:53","slug":"forgiveness-in-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/blog\/forgiveness-in-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is forgiveness important in a marriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Do you remember the first time you struggled to forgive someone?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The earliest memory I have involves my grandmother. I was probably eight or nine at the time, and my grandparents had just taken my brother and me to the mountains for some good \u2018ol Dollywood fun! (If you know, you know!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unforgettable bubble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While getting ready in the hotel one day, I was chewing a piece of Double Bubble Bubblegum. My grandmother and I were standing in front of the bathroom mirror and, as she was doing my hair, I blew the largest bubble I thought I had ever blown in my life! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the bubble continued to grow, I started to see less and less of my reflection in the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, this was the kind of bubble that bubblegum dreams are made of for a child! Unfortunately, however, it ended all too soon, because my grandmother decided it would be funny to pop it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when it popped, it ended up all over <\/em>my face and my hair! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was so angry at my grandmother that I cried. As I grieved the sudden loss of the bubble of my dreams, she couldn\u2019t stop laughing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she finally apologized, I found it very, very hard to forgive her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, my bubblegum story might be a little dramatic, but it taught me a timeless truth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our sin nature makes it incredibly difficult to forgive those who hurt or offend us\u2026even over something as simple as a bubble.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Forgiveness in marriage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was especially reminded of this when I got married six years ago. If marriage has taught me one thing, it\u2019s just how selfish to the core I truly am. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when things are my fault, I find myself expecting my husband to apologize first. Perhaps you can relate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know about you, but I don\u2019t want to be like this. I want to die to myself and pick up my cross daily so that I can view my spouse<\/a>–and everything for that matter–through the lens of Christ and eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because when we do so, our pride takes a backseat and things like forgiveness become easier to extend. Because when we do so, our marriages become healthier<\/a> and more Christ-centered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beauty and power of forgiveness in marriage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you often find yourself struggling to apologize or forgive, specifically in your marriage, here are three biblical truths to remember and rejoice in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n