{"id":8458,"date":"2006-08-27T19:55:12","date_gmt":"2006-08-28T00:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?page_id=8458"},"modified":"2019-08-30T15:02:58","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T20:02:58","slug":"when-the-excitement-dies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/preparation-for-a-lifetime\/when-the-excitement-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Excitement Dies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

When the Excitement Dies<\/h1>\n

The early years of marriage are filled with novelty. You get to learn all the little habits of your spouse. There is the enjoyment of sex and eventually the trials of being a parent. Yet after a while, you fall into habits. You tend to do things the same way because it takes less effort. You become comfortable and familiar with your spouse, so you assume things will continue without any additional effort on your part. In short, you get stuck in a rut.<\/p>\n

Habits and familiarity take the fun out of a relationship. When you were first courting your spouse you did many things simply to make a good impression. These things shouldn\u2019t stop just because you are married. You should continue to date your spouse for the rest of your life. I like the example of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 26:8. They were trying to pass themselves off as brother and sister, but they were found out because they were not behaving like a brother and sister. Would there be enough evidence to convince onlookers that the two of you are married when you are out in public?<\/p>\n

Some habits are important. There should be a habit of expressing your love for each other. It does not have to anything major or expensive, but there should be a constant reminder of your devotion. Consider this beautiful poem:<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>Red Roses<\/h2>\nRed roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose.
\nAnd every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.
\nThe year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.
\nThe card said, \u201cBe my Valentine,\u201d like all the years before.\nEach year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,
\n\u201cI love you, even more, this year, than last year on this day.
\nMy love for you will always grow, with every passing year.\u201d
\nShe knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.\nShe thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.
\nHer loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.
\nHe always liked to do things early, way before the time.
\nThen, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.\nShe trimmed the stems and placed them in a very special vase.
\nThen, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
\nShe would sit for hours, in her husband\u2019s favorite chair,
\nWhile staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.\nA year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate,
\nWith loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate.
\nThen, the very hour, as on Valentines before,
\nThe doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door.\nShe brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.
\nThen, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.
\nThe owner answered, and she asked him if he would explain,
\nWhy would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?\n\u201cI know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,\u201d
\nThe owner said, \u201cI knew you\u2019d call, and you would want to know.
\nThe flowers you received today, were paid for in advance.
\nYour husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance.\nThere is a standing order, that I have on file down here,
\nAnd he has paid, well in advance, you\u2019ll get them every year.
\nThere also is another thing, that I think you should know,
\nHe wrote a special card . . . he did this years ago.\nThen, should ever I find out that he\u2019s no longer here,
\nThat\u2019s the card . . . that should be sent, to you the following year.\u201d
\nShe thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
\nHer fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.\nInside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
\nThen, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote . . .
\n\u201cHello my love, I know it\u2019s been a year since I\u2019ve been gone,
\nI hope it hasn\u2019t been too hard for you to overcome.\nI know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.
\nFor if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.
\nThe love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.
\nI loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife.\nYou were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.
\nI know it\u2019s only been a year, but please try not to grieve.
\nI want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.
\nThat is why the roses will be sent to you for years.\nWhen you get these roses, think of all the happiness
\nThat we had together, and how both of us were blessed.
\nI have always loved you and I know I always will.
\nBut, my love, you must go on, you have some living still.\nPlease . . . try to find happiness, while living out your days.
\nI know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.
\nThe roses will come every year, and they will only stop,
\nWhen your door\u2019s not answered, when the florist stops to knock.\nHe will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.
\nBut after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
\nTo take the roses to the place, where I\u2019ve instructed him,
\nAnd place the roses where we are, together once again.\nSometimes in life, you find a special friend;
\nSomeone who changes your life just by being part of it.
\nSomeone who makes you laugh until you can\u2019t stop;
\nSomeone who makes you believe there really is good in the world.
\nSomeone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.\n

This is Forever Friendship.<\/p>\n

Author Unknown<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Habits of expressing love are important, but novelty can also keep the spark of love burning bright. Do something different once in a while. Leave the kids with grandma and take a short trip with just you and your spouse. Plan a romantic dinner, take your spouse out to lunch, or find a gift you know your spouse had been wanting but won\u2019t get just for himself or herself. Don\u2019t tie the occasion to anything in particular. Do it just because you love him or her. It shouldn\u2019t be just the husband\u2019s plans either. You wives should surprise your husbands once in a while and pursue him for a change.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPreparation for a Lifetime\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the Excitement Dies The early years of marriage are filled with novelty. You get to learn all the little habits of your spouse. There is the enjoyment of sex and eventually the trials of being a parent. Yet after a while, you fall into habits. You tend to do things the same way because…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":8138,"menu_order":18,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8458","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":65367,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/letters-of-advice-to-newlyweds\/eliminating-doubts\/","url_meta":{"origin":8458,"position":0},"title":"Eliminating Doubts","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Eliminating Doubts by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Periods when we make major changes in our lives are always difficult. We have so many habits that we develop to make our life easier. 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