*6 MATES YOU MUST MARRY* 

One of the ways your marriage will not add to the rate of divorce in our world today is for you to marry your mate and if you are married already, make your spouse your mate!

You see that statement of ' Am I your mate?' does not apply in marriage. You must marry your mate. I will like to talk on seven dimensions you and the person you want to marry or you have married must be mate.

1. *MARRY_YOUR_SPEAKING_MATE* Marry someone you can speak together and understand each other. Communication is very crucial in marriage. Don't marry someone that, when you are saying 'A' he or she will be saying ' Z' Once there is dichotomy in your speaking and understanding level, you can't enjoy that marriage. So many men go to bar to hang out with friends and gist till 11pm because they know their wives can't engage in any meaningful intellectual discussion. So many women too prefer to hang out with their friends, because they know their husbands mentality when it comes to vital issues and discussions is very low. Marry your speaking Mate.

2. *MARRY_YOUR_SCHOOL_MATE*

By this I mean, marry someone you can learn together and improve together. Don't marry ' Mr Know all' or 'Miss Know all'. Don't marry someone who is rigid and not open to new ideas, new ways of doing things, or new innovations. Marriage is a great institution. From day one till death do you part, you will keep learning. Marry your 'school' mate; someone who is ready to learn with you.

3. *MARRY_YOUR_SPIRITUAL_MATE*: Marriage is not just a social union. It is also a spiritual union. Marry someone who knows the same God you know. Don't marry someone who's believe of God is different from yours. Two can't work together except they be agreed ( Amos 3:3, Joshua 23: 11-15, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). The spiritual controls the physical, even in marriage. Check for spiritual compatibility in that person you want to marry.

4. *MARRY_YOUR_SPENDING_MATE* Don't marry someone who is stingy. There are so many expenses to cater for in marriage. A stingy guy in courtship won't suddenly become a generous husband in marriage. Don't marry a lady that has the financial philosophy of ' My husband's money is our money, but my money is my money'. Marry someone who believes in dignity of labour , who is ready to work, not a lazy fellow who just want to be a consumer and not a contributor. Marry someone who is ready to spend and be spent for the growth and success of the family.

5. *MARRY_YOUR_SEX_MATE* Marry someone you have sexual feelings for. Sexual feeling is not a sin. It is an instinct God put in every person. Sex plays a major role in the success of any marriage. Any man you don't have emotional feelings for, don't marry the person. If you don't have emotional feelings for that lady, leave her alone. A spiritual being is also a sexual being. No matter how spiritual you both may be in your marriage, you won't be praying for 24 hours in a day. You won't be reading the Bible or worshipping God 24/7. You will have sex! You will romance! You will flirt with each other! You will make babies. So, marry someone you can connect with sexually. It will help you to enjoy your marriage so much!

6. *MARRY_YOUR_SOCIAL_MATE*: Don't marry someone you won't be proud to go out with. Don't marry someone you will be feeling shy to introduce to people with boldness. Marry someone you are comfortable to hang out with. Marry someone you are socially compatible with. Don't marry an anti- social person.

*MARRY SOMEONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN YOUR HOBBY. DONT MARRY THE PERSON THAT WILL KILL YOUR DREAM AND ASPIRATIONS.

You might be wondering if you can find all the 'mates' in one person. Yes! The answer is YES! You don't need to marry 6 guys/ladies to have all these mates. One person can be all that for you. If you also work on yourself and build your life, you can be all that for the guy/lady that will marry you.

The promise of God for you is this : 'Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.' (Isaiah 34:16).

Say it loud and clear ' I shall not lack a mate!'

I hope this blessed someone reading?

My wife and I boarded a bus to orie Mbieri in mbieri one certain day. We were both seated at the back seat talking and laughing over some issues. 

We loved to gossip a lot. It had become so used to us. And because we were so used to each other, we playfully teased each other with insults we didn't mean.

My wife said something that annoyed me. But because we were both in the bus, I could not react. I called her an ugly woman so as to get back at her. I told her she looked like ogbanje's grandmother. 

"Don't even talk to me till we come down from this bus." I spoke with all seriousness.

"Yes and you too. Don't talk to me." She retorted.

"Fine. Let's see who talks to who first. We shall see."

She knew I was angry, and she was also angry at me too for taking  a mare joke serious. 

We stopped talking and simply sat like strangers in the bus.

When we got to a park, the bus stopped and this very handsome looking guy entered the bus and sat beside my wife.

I noticed he kept taking frequent glances at my wife. She noticed it and tried to hold my hands, but I pulled my hands away from her angrily and turned towards the other side without saying a word.

"Hello beautiful." The young guy grinned at her.

His smiles were so magnetic. When I turned and saw his set of white teeth and pink lips, I feared for myself. 

My wife didn't reply him. She kept her head face front and pretended not to hear anything.

"Where could a beautiful woman like you be going to? Really if I had a car I wouldn't let you take a bus."

As if that was not enough, he whispered into my wife ears and the next thing my wife bursted out in a wild laughter - a laughter I had not seen her laugh before. Some of the passengers had to even turn to look at her.

Then the guy went on.

"Are you married? I noticed the ring on your hand."

"Yes dear, I am married." My wife replied. "But don't worry, I am currently having issues with my husband. He said I am ugly. This morning he told me that I look like Ogbanje younger sister. He insulted me."

"He must be crazy. Who insults a beautiful woman like you? You are pretty. Don't mind him. I think he is blind. Some men these days don't appreciate their wives."

I turned and looked at the man. I felt like removing three teeth from the man's mouth with just one punch. But I remembered the fight with my wife and just kept quiet.

"Yes o. I am not minding him. At least someone has told me I am beautiful and wherever he is, I just hope he is hearing now o."  

The young man laughed.

"You have a good sense of humour. I will love to have your number. We can be great friends."

That was where I did not hold it again.

I simply held my wife by her shoulders and pulled her close to me. I landed one original kiss on her lips and she started laughing.

Bros realised that I was her husband and suddenly became cold. He told the conductor he had reached his destination and wanted coming down. I believe he felt so embarrassed. I will if I was caught in his shoes.

While the bus drove, my wife asked me.

"Shey you say you won't talk to me? Why are you holding me and kissing me in public?"

"Ah! I had to identify and protect my property o. All these fine boys of now a days. They have no respect for people husbands again."

My wife laughed and rested her head on my shoulders.

This is exactly what happens when you quarrel with your spouse. The devil steps in and takes advantage of one partner just to destroy your relationship.

A preacher once asked the congregation.

"Do you think if Adam and Eve were together in the garden, the serpent would have still come?" 

Well, I do not think so. He waited patiently for them until they were both apart, before he chose one partner and struck swiftly.

Hold on to your partner like an egg. Make peace with your lover. Show the devil that he can't have his way in your relationship or marriage. Do not give chance to the devil - do not allow the devil strike.......