You don't have to like your spouse to love your spouse

If you read the title to this you probably got a little curious or skeptical. However, in a marriage there are countless times we may not like our spouse. Sure, we all want to live in the fantasy of singing birds and everlasting happiness. But in the real world, we have arguments, disagreements, grievances, and any other word you want to use to describe tension between people. Do we honestly like our spouse all of the time? If you really think about it you'll probably find at least a few times you can answer "no" to that question.

Regardless of whether we like our spouse or not, the important thing is that we love them. Our Messiah set a clear example for us to follow demonstrating how we can love someone without liking them. He had many occasions where He was angry at the people and frustrated with His disciples. However, His frustration and/or anger never changed His love for the world The Father created. Whether your spouse is on the top of your list right now or barely hanging on from the bottom of the last thread LOVE THEM!!! Even if you're at the point where you're saying "I'll love em alright. I'll love my spouse with a kick in the rear". Just turn the "kick" into "kiss" and the "rear" into "ear" and you've completely changed your motive. Now, they might even be pleasantly shocked by a gentle or even not so gentle kiss on the ear. Emotions will fluctuate, feelings will change, frustrations will die down, but loving them is a choice you need to make and keep making it 900 times a day if you have to (and sometimes it actually takes that many :) ). I hope you will look past whatever you are going through and decide to love your spouse unconditionally today, and tomorrow, and every day after that. May you receive the strength you need to resist all temptations that will divide your marriage.