What are the ingredients for a successful marriage?

I would like to look back on my marriage in 20 years and say that i did my best and it was great! Any advice from someone who has been there and done that???? What is the best advice you could pass on to me??What are the ingredients for a successful marriage?
I have been married twenty-one years and for us respect for 1 another is a big plus,but we made a pact when we got married that we would never let our marriage get dull and we had many hardships but we stuck it out together.Through the years we met sorrow and many happy times and I wouldn't change a thing.I won't lie and say that we are all over each other like when we first met but it does grow and becomes richer with every year.....i'm fiercely protective of my marriage and my family and to this day my husband brings me flowers every week and still surprises me in many ways.It's been 21 years and i'm still getting to know him which means i have a lot of discovering to do yet.So in answer to your question love,respect,friendship,loyalty and really great sex.Hope you have a long and happy marriage.What are the ingredients for a successful marriage?
ingredients:


love


respect


communication


loyalty


understanding


compromise





add all ingredients together, bake for 10+ years and the result will be a long, healthy worthwhile marriage.








congrats on 20 years... they say the first 5 are the toughest and I would def agree. and at 20 years you should be giving the advice to us who havent quite reached that point...


i guess the best thing is to never let it get boring, and keep communicating.
First let me say that a marriage without prayer and God is gonna be weak from the beginning. The devil will always be there to fool you like things are going fine but in the back ground he will be hard at work. My wife and I pray together at least twice a day and many, many, times a day we tell each other how much we love each other and what a blessing it is to have God as the center of our marriage. We only fuss about who loves who the most then take turns win-n or lose-n. Remember your vows because there will be others who will try to make you feel that you have changed and not the person that you use to be. Well that is correct-da-mondo. You and your husband should be as one and that gets stronger as your love for each other grows. Never let no one come between you and him,remember Forsaken All Others for the one that you vowed before God to love honor and cherish till death do you part. God Bless you both with many, many years together
#1. Respect. -- If you respect your partner and your partner respects you, you will have very few serious disagreements, and all problems and disagreements you do have will be easier to solve.


#2. Patience. -- Even respectful partner will have disagreement and make mistakes. Be patient with your partners mistakes, and hopefully, they will be patient with yours.


#3. Love. The Bible says that love is not selfish, does not seek it's own interest, etc: 1 Corinthians 13:4.


#4. Empathy. -- The ability to put yourself in the other persons place and see their point of view.





If you cultivate these four qualities, you should have a happier marriage!





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A lot of hard work, Love, friendship, shared interests, and support of one another. I have been married 31 years on the 6th of August. There have been trying times, sad times, and many many happy times.





We did not go into marriage as many people do today thinking well if it doesn't work we can get divorced. We went into with the intentions of staying married for life.





Marriage is a lot of hard work and if you are not willing to work everyday on your marriage I believe it will fail.





We have 4 grown children, and 9 grand children.
God, Commitment and Love. If you have children you will understand this. If your child makes you mad would you throw that child out of the house forever. If your child screws up and doesn't clean his room or do his chores, etc. would you throw that child out of the house. No you wouldn't. Why because you love that child. The word love is used so easily these days. If you truly love someone, that is forever. God truly loves us. He died for us, he forgives us of our many sins. He will never leave us. That is love. Commitment: You took a vow to God to love and honor till the day you die. You made a commitment, stand behind that commitment. Can't bail out when it get tough. You took a vow Good and Bad. Marriage is not always a walk in the park but through God, your commitment, and love it can be done.
I would say:





Respect


Communication


Compromise


Love


Affection


Understanding, and


Support
exactly what you said, give it your best, 100 percent! =)








Mary
Spend ';quality time'; with the one that you love.(If you don't someone else will!)
be honest, be patient and learn to let little things go.
it's gotta be true love.