Well, maybe not rules, but guidelines, commitments, agreements? Anyway, we have agreed upon certain actions that we feel keep us close, connected, and communicating. We want to share those with you. They’re not law, but we do hold a high value on these as a priority to our marriage health. Here are all ten of them:

1. We pray together every morning and evening. If one of us is traveling, we’ll try to call.
2. We find one another when leaving the house, kiss and say goodbye. We find one another when returning home, kiss and greet with any necessary communication.
3. We do not spend more than $50.00 without consulting each other on the purchase. 
4. The money we earn is not hers or his; it is ours. 
5. We have written a marriage mission statement and we abide by it.
6. No yelling or name-calling is tolerated during disagreements. One guideline we maintain is to praise in public and to construct in private.
7. Conflict must be resolved (or worked toward a resolve) in a reasonable amount of time.
8. We take necessary time to do a face-to-face communication and catch-up daily.
9. We share a common faith in every area of life and keep it at the center of who we are as a couple.
10. When we said “yes” to each other, we said “no” to all others

We’re not a perfect couple by any means, but these “rules” have helped to keep us safe, secure, and connected in the nearly 51 years we have been married. The marriage relationship is built on trust, and trust is maintained through integrity in all areas of our marriage. We love our marriage and we remain committed to walk in love, forgiveness, and honesty. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)