My thoughts have turned to marriage several times over the last few months. Anne Marie and I are planning to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss—well, mostly bliss—in April.

We’ve been working on a story for Worldwide Challenge that tells about a couple in North Carolina whose marriage came apart, but later was renewed by God’s grace. Now they’re helping other couples.

Then last month, as we traveled to to Nebraska, I saw how my parents remain committed to each other after more than 55 years. We met my brother Rex’s new wife. He “finally” got married, reminding me that it’s better to wait for the right match at the right time than to rush things. We also spent time with my cousin, a widow after her first husband’s tragic death, now happy with her second husband of two years.

In Ephesians 5:21, Paul addresses marriage and offers a basic instruction: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This references a voluntary act of yielding in love, not a submission that is forced by one side or the other.

Early in our marriage someone advised Anne Marie that sometimes you can chose to be right or you can chose to be loved. We joke that she prefers to be loved and I prefer to be right, so we can both be happy. At least I hope it’s a joke. But the truth is, I often benefit from choosing to submit to her preferred direction.

We’re seeing more and richer opportunities to practice this idea now as we live in our empty nest. From November 13-16, we were in Xenia, Ohio, to teach writing and editing skills to some Cru staff members who work with our Athletes in Action ministry.

They recently started a magazine, and their team leader contacted me asking for help with writing. I knew where to send him. He and Anne Marie planned for what they need and landed on three writing topics and three editing topics.

We spent those days in November with their staff. That conference went so well, that we’re going back again in the Spring. Please pray for us as we plan the details of that conference. We’ll post more details as we have them.