The Architecture of a Strong Relationship Series – Part 8
The Exterior – Paint, Decorations, and Furniture: Public Displays and Social Perception.
Once a building is completed, people admire the paint job, the decorations, and the furniture. These are what catch the eye, but they do not determine the building’s strength. A house can be beautifully painted yet structurally weak. In marriage, the “paint and decorations” represent:
Public perception: How a couple appears to friends, family, and social media.
Romantic gestures: Flowers, dates, and gifts that are beautiful but not enough to sustain a relationship alone.
Wedding ceremonies: Grand celebrations that mark the beginning of a journey but don’t guarantee its success.
While these things can enhance a marriage, they are not its foundation. A marriage that focuses only on appearances but lacks depth will eventually crack under pressure. The true strength of a building is revealed when it faces storms, earthquakes, or years of wear and tear. If the foundation and internal structure are solid, the building remains standing.
Likewise, the real test of a marriage comes in hard times in the form of financial struggles, health challenges, conflicts and misunderstandings, external pressures from family or society.
A marriage built on unseen strength of character, trust, and commitment, will endure. One built only on attraction, social status, or public image will struggle to survive.
Build with the unseen in mind: A lasting marriage, like a strong building, is not about how beautiful it looks on the outside but about how strong it is on the inside. Invest in the unseen elements which are character, trust, commitment, and emotional security because when the storms come, those are the only things that will keep your love standing.
