Love Won't Keep Us Together

I was actually surprised that they were still married. How many stars of the 70s still are. But not for long. The Captain and Tennille musical duo and marriage partners are splitting.

Their signature song and first smash hit, Love Will Keep Us Together, was one that almost everyone will recognize, even those of you who only know about the 70s from the TV show. 

Evidently, while still married and singing together here and there, they haven’t really been together for quite some time. I suspect partly because they were banking on the lyrics of their song to be true. But they aren’t.

Gray divorces, that is divorces for those over 50, doubled between 1999-2009. And it makes sense. These are the years of baby boomers heading toward retirement. And the boomers are the “ME Generation”. That doesn’t work for marriage. Apparently, many held together for the sake of their kids (not a bad idea) but once there was an empty nest, they flew the coop.

You see, it’s not love that keeps a couple together. Not the kind of love that Tennille was referring to anyway. If you don't remember the lyrics, here’s a taste:

Young and beautifulSomeday your looks will be goneWhen the others turn you offWho'll be turning you onI will, I will, I will, I will

There’s not a couple standing at the alter, saying, “I do” who would not claim to be madly in love. But a high percentage of them walk away, and an even higher percentage of those who don’t, eventually describe their marriage as unfulfilling and unhappy. Sad.

There’s more to marriage than feelings. Way more. When you get that figured out, the feelings follow, rather than lead.

The most important is this: A mutual commitment to pleasing God in your relationship followed by a lifelong commitment to the well-being of each other. 

If you are having struggles, let me plead with you. Don’t end it! And don’t just rely on “love” to keep you together. Give yourself first and for most to pleasing God in how you talk to, talk about, respond to, and treat your spouse. That alone will probably change everything. Then make the commitment to spend the rest of your life serving the man or woman God has given you. It’s that kind of love that will keep you together, the kind of love that God alone can give us the ability to practice.