Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. – Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT
Growing up, I would rush home from school to catch the afternoon re-runs of shows like Gilligan’s Island, The Adam’s Family, and The Brady Bunch. My father was born into a kind of real-life Brady Bunch, a blended family of a widowed mother and a widowed father. The two families, with five existing children, merged into one, and two more children were the result. Three last names under one roof, but we became one family.
Marriage is a sacred union, a beautiful bond designed by God to be nurtured and cherished. However, navigating the complexities of a blended family can present unique challenges. As stepparents, stepchildren, and ex-partners come together, protecting the marriage at the heart of the new family becomes crucial.
While working with your spouse, you can take several simple and practical steps to protect your marriage.
1. Engage in healthy communication. Make it a priority to have open and honest conversations with your spouse. Share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns regularly, and encourage your partner to do the same. You can build a strong foundation of trust and unity by actively listening and seeking understanding.
2. Create healthy boundaries. Establish clear expectations and boundaries regarding parenting, discipline, and household rules as a couple. Consistency and fairness make children feel secure and provide a united front for the family.
3. Cultivate your relationship as a couple. Set aside dedicated time for one another. Plan for date nights, weekend getaways, or share a quiet moment together. Investing in your relationship reinforces the foundation on which your blended family stands.
4. Embrace flexibility and patience. This journey will have its ups and downs. Be prepared to adapt, compromise, and show grace towards your spouse, stepchildren, and even ex-partners. Seek wisdom from God, knowing that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.
5. Seek support from other blended families or professionals. Don’t hesitate to reach out to support groups, family counselors, or your local church community for guidance and encouragement. Surrounding yourselves with others who understand your unique challenges can provide valuable insights and reassurance.
6. Nurture your spiritual life individually and as a couple. Spend time in prayer, study God’s Word, and seek His guidance for your marriage and family. Let your faith in God be the anchor that sustains you through the storms and allow His love and grace to flow through you into your loved ones.
Protecting your marriage in a blended family is a continuous journey that requires commitment, patience, and God’s grace. Remember that your blended family can thrive with God’s guidance, demonstrating love, unity, and grace to the world around you.
Dig Deeper
1. How can you intentionally prioritize your marriage amidst the challenges of blending families?
2. What practical steps can you take to ensure your marriage remains a priority? Consider discussing and implementing strategies such as regular date nights, shared hobbies, or quality communication.
3. Explore the balance between fostering a sense of unity and love among all family members while respecting and maintaining necessary boundaries. Discuss potential strategies to cultivate a healthy and balanced environment for everyone involved.
Additional Scripture
1. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! – Romans 12:16 NLT
2. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:13-14 NLT
3. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! – Psalm 133:1 NLT
4. “Let no one split apart what God has joined together.” – Mark 10:9 NLT
5. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. – Proverbs 17:17 NLT
6. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. – Psalm 68:6 NLT
7. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
8. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6 NLT
