Marriage was not made to be a battleground where we snarl, fight, and attack each other. It was meant to be more like a playground where we romp and play and have fun together. Sadly, many couples can relate to a battleground instead of a playground. Why is that?

Using the example of a lion and a lioness and the different roles they were created to perform, we will compare the ground a husband and wife were called to live on. The mane is what sets a lion apart and gives him strength, authority, and courage. Shave off a lion's mane and he is left defenseless, fearful, and deprived of what he was meant to be. Yet, often, a wife can shave off her lion's "mane" by various hurtful habits such as critical words, disrespect, wrong attitudes, and unforgiveness.

As a lion and lioness implement their roles, they complete each other and work toward a common goal, exemplifying marriage as it was intended to be.

Looking back over forty-three years of marriage, I can see the times the razor was buzzing as I attempted to shave off my husband's mane. Those years were painful, wasteful, and damaging. Miraculously, through God's divine hand, our marriage survived.

This helpful and insightful look at how turning off the shaver and allowing God to do his redeeming work through you will strengthen your marriage so your husband can become the courageous leader he was called by God to be.