Creating Boundaries In Marriage

Your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.

—Proverbs 5:21

People create boundaries to protect their marriage in all sorts of different ways. Sometimes they seem a little strict. But in a season where it seems like every time I turn around another friend tells me about another affair, those boundaries don’t seem so crazy.

I have an old friend who lives in LA, and I hadn’t seen him for years. I was going to be out there, and I sent an e-mail—I wanted to see him and his wife and their kids. But his wife and kids were going to be out of town, so if we got together it would be just him and me.

He replied, “Hey, I know this might seem nuts to you. But my wife and I have a deal that we don’t meet alone with anyone—even for coffee, even in the middle of the day, even an old friend. That’s our thing.”

He was willing to risk offending me instead of breaking a boundary he’s set with his wife—I respect that. Because his relationship with his wife is so much more important than his friendship with me. I love it when someone chooses their marriage, whatever that means.