While time and attention are both seriously important aspects of tending to your marriage, so is prevention. When we first decided to buy some plants and start a garden of our own, we thought we would just water them, check on them, and then…BAM, we would have lovely fruits and veggies. Well, it wasn’t quite that simple because some local pests decided they wanted to move in. One day everything was great, and the next thing you know we were ambushed by bugs munching our lovely plants. That is when it became clear to me that if I wanted to reap the rewards of a garden, I was going to not only have to take time and devote attention to it, but I was going to have to make sure to prevent damage.

You may have gone into marriage thinking that it was going to be a cake walk. You said “I do,” take care of your spouse, and love them, so what could possibly go wrong? It should be smooth sailing right? Wrong. The thing is, marriage is not a cake walk and there are “pests” lurking out there ready to “munch” on it. Part of having a great, thriving, and healthy marriage is prevention. You have to protect and safeguard your marriage from the pests of the world trying to destroy it.

There are all sorts of things and people out there that do not have your marriage’s best interest in mind. Whether it is intentional or not, you and your spouse must make sure to take preventative measures to protect it. What kinds of pests are out there? Among them are lust in the form of pornography or a wandering eye/mind, the all-too-available guy or girl who just thinks you are the bees knees luring you into unfaithfulness, addiction stealing your time & resources, finances taxing the both of you, friends feeding you negativity, material possessions grasping your attention. There are so many things out there waiting to pull you away from your spouse and your marriage. It is up to you to safeguard your mind, your home, and your marriage. Part of that is keeping your eyes open and making sure to avoid potentially harmful situations. Checking in with you spouse and communicating about things is also important. The other major preventive measure is to word hard to be the wife or husband that your spouse needs. When we neglect our spouse, we leave the door wide open for an attack. Just like you wouldn’t leave your valuables on the table and the door unlocked and wide open, you can’t do that with your marriage either.

It is imperative to make sure that in addition to giving your marriage the time and attention it needs and deserves, you are protecting it. Place safeguards around yourself, your spouse, and your marriage. Don’t leave “windows” and “doors” unlocked in your marriage to where your invaluable marriage, spouse, and family are left standing vulnerable for destruction. Keep your home and marriage safe by being vigilant and careful.

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Author : Ashley McIlwain

Ashley McIlwain, M.A., is a Marriage and Family Therapist, speaker, and writer. She is the founder and C.E.O. of the non-profit organization, Foundation Restoration, and blog LittleWifey.com, which are comprehensive resources committed to restoring the very foundation of society – marriage. She is committed to and passionate about helping relationships thrive. In the past Ashley worked with Moody Publishers and Dr. Gary Chapman as Managing Editor to launch and develop a website focused on premarital preparation. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. Currently she and her husband, Steve, reside in Southern California.