I read an article by Mark Merrill that really resonated with me. He compared marriage to a classroom—one where we are always students, constantly learning about our spouse. His insight was a great reminder that when we said “I do,” we didn’t just commit to love our spouse, we committed to understanding them, growing with them, and deepening our knowledge of who they are.
In his article, Merrill outlines eight habits of a good student that also apply to marriage—things like prioritizing your spouse, actively listening, asking good questions, and continually seeking to understand them better. His words challenged me because, if I’m honest, I sometimes assume I already know my wife inside and out. But the reality? She is constantly changing, growing, and evolving as a person. And if I don’t stay curious—if I don’t study her with fresh eyes—I risk missing out on the beautiful depths of who she is becoming.
Love that lasts isn’t built on what we knew about our spouse yesterday—it’s built on the desire to know them more deeply today. When we stop learning, we stop seeing. And when we stop seeing, we slowly drift apart.
But when we lean in with fresh curiosity, when we choose to study our spouse with the same passion we had when we first fell in love, something incredible happens. We uncover new depths. We notice the small details. We cherish them not just for who they were, but for who they are becoming.
A marriage that thrives is one where both husband and wife remain lifelong students of each other—always discovering, always growing, always loving anew.
Read Mark’s full article here: How to Become a Student of Your Spouse – Mark Merrill
Happy Studying!