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Cookie Cutter Marriage

 Is your marriage like a cookie?  Maybe it's sweet.  Maybe it's comforting.  Maybe it's round (symbolic of the continuity of the rings).  Whatever cookie you feel your marriage may most resemble, and the possibilities are endless, they all require some of the same ingredients to be tasty and successful.

If we were to examine several cookie recipes, we would see just how many variations there are.  You have numerous chocolate chip, chocolate oatmeal, peanut butter, sugar, and many many more that we could name off.

But what makes a cookie a cookie?  Most cookie recipes call for some combination of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.  This where it gets fun.  From here, you can add the flavor(s) that you and your family enjoy!  Do you want to add fruit, candy, chocolate?  Again, the possibilities are endless.

The same is true in our marriages.  There are some core "ingredients" that we all need - love, trust, compassion, faithfulness, and a whole lot grace.  But after those core ingredients it's up to you.  

Maybe he likes to travel a lot - maybe she prefers to stay in.  Some couples will cook out - some prefer to dine out.  Some love large groups hanging out -some value quiet alone time.  And quite often, you may have spouses who enjoy different activities because the old saying is true that opposites attract. 

That leaves me with the last major ingredient that comes to mind right now - compromise.  With out it, our marriages will wind up bitter, embattled, and unhappy.  It's all about give and take.  

As your marriage and family grows and changes, your preferred flavors may change as well.  It's okay to go from the couple who used to go out on date nights to quiet fancy restaurants every weekend to the couple who now considers Chick-fil-A "fine dining."  Maybe you went from TV night where you caught up on your favorite shows quietly together to movie night where you watch the latest animated PG film with popcorn and 3 kids.  A cookie is still a cookie regardless of the flavors that have been added in.  

What truly matters in our marriages is not the type of cookie, it's our baking partner.

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