If Peace in marriage was described using music...

In music, harmony is the pleasing blending of notes to enhance the melody.

In marriage, peace provides a harmony to compliment purpose.

If spouses have purpose in their marriage, then peace becomes the satisfying note to give purpose added dimension. Using music to illustrate peace, harmony would be like consonance in intervals - notes that sound pleasing when played at the same time. The notes sound stable. Peace provides stability.

In addition, peace is not passive - it's an active state. Think of a line of harmony in a song (alto, tenor, or bass). Harmony doesn't remain on one note regardless of the melody; rather it follows the melody, creating a pleasing distinction. Just as peace can follow a couple through their life, complimenting new experiences.

How can you tell when peace is a part of marriage? It shows by how each spouse knows and accepts the underlying motivation of the other - regardless of outward actions. Peace provides stability. Each spouse is secure in their understanding of the other's decisions, because they are united in purpose. Peace provides the harmony to the melody of purpose.

Every marriage can have harmony. However, in music there is more than one style of harmony. Will your marriage harmony be like consonance, which can be compared to peace? The other concept in music harmony is called dissonance - where the interval between notes is uncomfortable. That interval isn’t considered stable according to a musical dictionary.

• consonance - notes put together to sound stable, and pleasing to the ear


• dissonance - notes that are uncomfortable together - the listener's ear is waiting for a change of note to make the sound comfortable

You’ll have to take a look at your marriage and decide what kind of interval and harmony you’d like to live. My desire is that both of you will feel & learn the interval of consonance, thereby the peace of harmony in your marriage.

Shared harmony equals shared peace.

A note on peace: The most precious peace is from God, through Christ Jesus. Only He can give true peace. Read John 14:25-27 to begin to understand that peace.

Join me next time, as I introduce the first of - 7 deliberate actions - using encouragement to bring peace and purpose into your marriage relationship.