I read an article in the newspaper this morning about marriages falling apart over strains on family budgets. From studies I’ve read in the past, turmoil between spouses over finances is a leading cause of divorce.

So, what should a couple on a tight budget do?

From a spiritual point of view, a healthy step would be to defend the marriage from worry and anxiety over money! It’s a wise pre-emptive course of action for those who want to stay happily married through tough times and flush ones.

It helps to remember that a successful marriage is not built upon a savings account, but on love.

True love can survive any financial crisis. Love endures. But we may have to defend the presence of love in our home so that family members are not tempted by impatience, fear, anger, ill-will, or any other enemy to peace and harmony that might cause temporary strain over spending priorities.

Love forgives. Love understands. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is open-minded. Love is humble. Love unites. Love works things out. Love is wealth! When a husband and wife make expressing qualities of love a priority, misunderstandings and disagreements over how to manage money can be resolved.

It’s more important to love than to get one’s way.

Recessions are short. Love is forever.

When the riches of love are acknowledged and lived abundantly, human needs are met. Mutual understandings are established. Harmony reigns in the home. The family will have everything it needs to flourish and move forward, even if times feel tough for a while.

It takes prayer and effort to keep a marriage together and flourishing. With all the negative news blaring over the headlines about people struggling with finances, this is definitely a time to not let one’s guard down and get unconsciously sucked into the belief that these fears can become our family’s fears. The resources of divine Love are ample, overflowing and available to all. Our job is to put them to use and reap their benefit.

Love, love, love…we can never do enough of it.

All the best…