The passage in Genesis gives us an insight into how the marital life and relationship is a gift.

In this passage we are taken through God's concern for the man - "it is not right that the man should be alone ...but no helper suitable for the man was found for him." (vv 18, 20)

And then begins the gifting process. The man gives the rib. God gives life to the rib. The rib becomes a woman. The woman is given to the man. The man leaves his father and mother and gives himself to the woman. They give themselves to each other and become one.

In a husband-wife relationship there is always the danger of taking each other for granted. There is always the frustration that the other could be other than he or she is.

But like any gift it comes in a package - it comes with what is pleasing to the eye and what is yet to be known and embraced - moles, warts, and all!

As the body of Christ let us pray that husbands and wives continue in their marital relationship that they continue to grow in appreciation of each other and see in each other God's gift of love.