The last few weeks, I have talked all about important values that you should have, or work on, when going into a marriage. Marriage is a lot of thing, and “hard” is definitely one of those things, but hopefully this series can help just a little. This week is all about something that I tend to struggle with most.

Patience

“Being able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people.”

Oh patience. We go way back, but only because of my lack of. I have never been good at patience, and after getting married, I had to practice and practice this one. But not only patience towards my husband, but patience with myself as well.

Anger is one of the worst feelings that one can have in a marriage, especially when it’s aimed at the wrong source. In a marriage, it’s pretty easy for that anger to be directed at your spouse. It’s far too easy to start criticizing and blaming them. This is the point where you need to be aware of yourself, and be able to redirect those feelings.

When you have patience, you are able to deal with issues with a level head. You don’t lash out, and are more of a peacekeeper in the big scheme of things. When you have a peaceful marriage, you are able to navigate problems easier, and have a closer bond with one another.

There are definitely times when your spouse with do things to just “push your buttons.” We all do it. It’s kind of human nature, but with patience, you will be able to see past that, take a breath, and react with kindness instead of lashing out.

I know that this is one aspect of my marriage I definitely need to work on. Do you have any tips?