Marriage comes with seasons within seasons;
There is this perception that when you are getting married to someone it means that you really know the person but there are seasons when you are still getting to know each other. That’s when you are trying to include your personal life seasons with the seasons that comes with the marriage journey.

• The beginning of the marriage journey, the first 2 years of marriage but not always the case, is a season. In that season there is usually another season running concurrently with it. This phase of the journey is usually characterized by a new member introduced into the family, in that same season the couple will have to learn to adjust their lifestyle to suit the new member. Then soon a new season might come when the financial state of the couple might change because of the expansion of the family. In this season the couple can take advantage and save up some money for when the seasons change again. It’s also the season when there must be acceptance and tolerance because the couple are in a face where they are still getting to know each other, surprises of who the other person really is, keeps springing up, a season within season.

• There’s also a season when the couple is still getting to know each other and yet their current circumstances and maturity levels; emotionally or physically are linked to seasons. This face of the marriage journey might be the next 3 to 5 years of marriage but not always the case. Within this season a lot would have happened for the couple; the fights and happy moments all mixed together in a season. They are still getting used to each other and how things work in their own marriage. However, in this same season because the two are different and unique, there is still a rubbing on, on each other; a friction; that might not feel very comfortable. Within this same season there might be another addition to the family that also changes the dynamics of the season, for some couples other additions might have come in already, this season will come with financial adjustments or major changes like. a change of house or finding an extra hand to help. It’s a season where the couple can take advantage to learn how to depend on each other emotionally, physically and financially.

• There comes a season on this journey where the couple have now come to a kind of realization of who they are together and individually. Maybe 5 to 10 years but not always the case. In this season it feels a bit uncomfortable because each person assumes that by now you should know how to handle things. Within that season there is growth and maturity in the individual lives, that is if there has been room created for growth and maturity in the marriage and family, these maturity levels may include the Children, and its quiet critical to note that it’s a season when the couple can take advantage and begin to understand each other and get to know their children better, in order to bring them along as the seasons change. This season usually comes with financial changes, more groceries, higher Bills, school fees and more responsibility. These financial changes have come to stay anyway and the rest of the seasons in marriage will run with constant financial changes.

• It’s good to note that though seasons are changing for the marriage. The individuals that are in the family (husband, wife and children) are also going through their own personal seasons in life. This will definitely impact the marriage. It’s an individual choice to bring in positives or negatives from your personal seasons on board. However to build a healthy place of existence in the Marriage journey, there must be room for acceptance of individual seasons and interdependence must be encouraged to help sail through the seasons smoothly.

Sometimes we are quick to think that whatever season we find ourselves in marriage, it feels is uncomfortable that we need to leave. We are so unhappy, remember its a season! these seasons within seasons can be very difficult for everyone, but that why its called a season; it will pass. The best way to keep going is to learn to make personal and family adjustments. One that encourages individuality and teamwork.

These adjustments might not be easy but God says there’s a time to sow and a time to reap. See your adjustments as your sowing days, days when you will need both the scorching sun and the heavy rains to bring you a good harvest.

For the single person it’s good to know that marriage will come with seasons. As you choose a spouse, think about the seasons in marriage and ask yourself, can this person I want to marry; sail through every season with me smoothly, can I also be a good companion in these seasons within seasons. Together can we be a team that is willing to make adjustments for each other in every season within season.

The reason why I call them seasons within seasons is because marriage has seasons and individuals have seasons and both can be running together at the same time in marriage. Seasons change, they come and go and so will the seasons you face in your marriage!