There are certain behaviors that ought to be customary with every marriage. A clear understanding of what’s acceptable and what’s not in our relationships is a must. Just as there is protocol on our jobs and a specific way of doing things we must follow in order to maintain our position, the same should be true for our marriage.

I am not very fond of the term “rules”, nevertheless there are unspoken and some spoken agreements within each union. Marriage is constant giving with a little take along the way. Every couple is different, so what works in one marriage doesn’t necessarily work for others. But every partnership should at the very least include a lot of the following. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your marriage etiquette in the following areas:

• Love
• Respect
• Courtesy
• Honesty
• Friendship
• Sincerity
• Sacrifice
• Commitment
• Trust
• Giving
• Support
• Encouragement
• Communication

In the search for healthy marriages scoring high in each of the categories listed above is imperative. When it comes to etiquette, here are a few rules that work for the majority of couples.

• A married person should not stay out all night.
• All outside friends should be friends of the marriage.
• A married person should never hide the fact they are married.
• A married person should communicate with their partner when they’re upset.
• A married person should nip any inappropriate relationships in the bud.
• A married person must make their spouse a priority.
• A married person should never flirt with someone other than their spouse (harmless or not).  

Rules aren’t always easy to follow, but if a healthy relationship is the goal, we must at least be willing to adhere to the unspoken rules of marriage. Being committed and honoring our spouse are small sacrifices to make when it comes to creating a relationship we love.

BMWK, how is your marriage etiquette?