The Marriage Creed

Comfort each other. 
Provide a refuge and sanctuary for each other from the chill winds of the world. 
Your marriage is a hearth, from whence comes the peace, harmony, and warmth of 
soul and spirit. 

Caress as you would be caressed. . .
Warm your loved one's body with your healing touch. Remember that as babies can 
die with lack of touching, so can marriages wither from lack of closeness.

Be a friend and partner. . .
Friendship can be a peaceful island, separate and apart, in a world of turmoil 
and strife. Reflect upon the tranquility of the many future years you can share 
with a true friend, and beware of becoming battling enemies under the same roof.

Be open with each other. . 
Bind not yourselves in the secrecy that causes suspicion and doubt. Trust and 
reveal yourselves to each other, even as the budding rose opens to reveal its 
fragrance and beauty.

Listen to each other. . .
And hear not only words, but also the non-language of tone, mood and expression. 
Learn to listen to understand rather than listening to argue.

Respect each other's rights. . .
Remember that each is a person of flesh and blood, entitled to his or her own 
choices and mistakes. Each owns himself, and has the right to equality.

Allow the other to be an individual. . .
Seek not to create for each other a new mold that can only fit with much discomfort 
and pain. Accept the other as they are, as you would have yourself accepted.

Give each other approval. . .
Remember criticism divides, while compliments encourage confidence in the other. 
Hasten not to point out the other's mistakes, for each will soon discover his 
own.

Cherish your union. . .
Let no one come between your togetherness, not child, not friend, nor worldly 
goods. Yet maintain enough separateness to allow each other his or her own unique 
oneness.

Love one another. . .
Love is your river of life-- your eternal source of recreating yourselves. Above 
all else -- love one another.