<p>If they are proven to be loyal i.e., unchanging in their love for us through thick and thin, we are elated and contented in whatever we undertake because we are sure that this loyal person is with us and would not stab us in the back. He or she would stand behind us in any and every situation.<br /><br />In fact we have seen that there were occasions when we made mistakes but then our loyal supporter gently told us our mistake and pointed out the way to get out of it without much trouble because he or she knows that the mistake was unintended and hence to be condoned. <br /><br />A loyal person would never let us down in front of others in spite of our faults and failures. They know how to correct us and bring us on back to the right ways. It is loyalty such as this that is expected of the spouses towards one another.<br /><br />The husband that is let down by his wife in front of his colleagues is truly humiliated and shattered. There is a time and place for her to correct her husband and that is in privacy. Then he would listen and be ready to change. <br /><br />Similarly a wife that is scolded or accused in front of others by her husband is hurt, sometimes, beyond measure and it would take a very long time indeed to discover proper composure. The basis of such loyalty is mature friendship which involves adult relationship of mutually given freedom and free acceptance of one another with all faults and failures.<br /><br />Fidelity on the other hand refers to faithfulness to a given word. It is a solemn undertaking to fulfil a certain obligation. It is to be true to one self and the word given. <br /><br />In any marriage, the pledge one gives to be faithful to one’s spouse calls for such fidelity. It is almost a burden that lays on someone and it can be kept when what has been solemnly promised is kept. <br /><br />But fidelity takes a giant leap when it is accompanied by genuine love. I am faithful not because I must keep the word but because I love. <br /><br />The question always arises: is such fidelity mutual or could it be one sided. The love that God pledges to his devotees is said to be one of fidelity. God keeps his word though we may be unfaithful to him. That is the greatness of God. <br /><br />So when a spouse forgives and forgets the hurt caused by the other they are God-like in such a fidelity. <br /><br />Through the prophet Jeremiah God invites us back to him and he promises to heal us of our infidelities: “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness” (Jer 3.22). Let us learn to be loyal and faithful to one another and also to God.</p>
<p>If they are proven to be loyal i.e., unchanging in their love for us through thick and thin, we are elated and contented in whatever we undertake because we are sure that this loyal person is with us and would not stab us in the back. He or she would stand behind us in any and every situation.<br /><br />In fact we have seen that there were occasions when we made mistakes but then our loyal supporter gently told us our mistake and pointed out the way to get out of it without much trouble because he or she knows that the mistake was unintended and hence to be condoned. <br /><br />A loyal person would never let us down in front of others in spite of our faults and failures. They know how to correct us and bring us on back to the right ways. It is loyalty such as this that is expected of the spouses towards one another.<br /><br />The husband that is let down by his wife in front of his colleagues is truly humiliated and shattered. There is a time and place for her to correct her husband and that is in privacy. Then he would listen and be ready to change. <br /><br />Similarly a wife that is scolded or accused in front of others by her husband is hurt, sometimes, beyond measure and it would take a very long time indeed to discover proper composure. The basis of such loyalty is mature friendship which involves adult relationship of mutually given freedom and free acceptance of one another with all faults and failures.<br /><br />Fidelity on the other hand refers to faithfulness to a given word. It is a solemn undertaking to fulfil a certain obligation. It is to be true to one self and the word given. <br /><br />In any marriage, the pledge one gives to be faithful to one’s spouse calls for such fidelity. It is almost a burden that lays on someone and it can be kept when what has been solemnly promised is kept. <br /><br />But fidelity takes a giant leap when it is accompanied by genuine love. I am faithful not because I must keep the word but because I love. <br /><br />The question always arises: is such fidelity mutual or could it be one sided. The love that God pledges to his devotees is said to be one of fidelity. God keeps his word though we may be unfaithful to him. That is the greatness of God. <br /><br />So when a spouse forgives and forgets the hurt caused by the other they are God-like in such a fidelity. <br /><br />Through the prophet Jeremiah God invites us back to him and he promises to heal us of our infidelities: “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness” (Jer 3.22). Let us learn to be loyal and faithful to one another and also to God.</p>
