The Sound of Your Marriage

My favorite word to say is on-o-mat-o-poe-ia. Basically, these are words that sound like the objects they name or the sounds those objects make. Zip,boom, plop, crackle, plink are just a few examples. Children's book author Dr. Seuss was an expert at crafting entertaining stories centered around these captivating sounds.

I started reflecting on "onomatopoeias" in relation to marriage, but not in the conventional sense. Phrases that we commonly express to each other such as "I love you" or "I forgive you." In order for these words to echo a sound in our marriages, we must act upon them.

Words that we speak from God's heart release light. Genesis 1:3 reads, Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. Pair this with Genesis 1:26-27, 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Notice in verse 26 God made a declaration (spoken word) and in verse 27 He created (action).When God created man, Adam's heart began to beat or make a sound. A heartbeat is an indication that someone is alive.

The correlation between light and sound can also be demonstrated by a thunderstorm. When we see a lightning bolt in the sky, we wait for the inevitable sound of thunder. The distance of lightning can be calculated by the listener based on the time interval from when the lightning is seen to when the sound is heard. The sound that the thunder makes is clap, boom, or crack (onomatopoeias).

When we see lightning in the sky, we expect to hear thunder. The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. The space between the declaration (light) and the manifestation (sound) is expectation.

Perhaps the distance or space between you and your spouse can be determined by words that you have spoken (light), but have not acted upon (sound). If you are feeling atmospheric pressure in your relationship, it is because the words you have spoken to your spouse have not manifested in your marriage. If you say the words, "I forgive you," you have essentially made a declaration that longs to be fulfilled by your supporting actions. Resentment, grudges, and withdrawal “mute” the sound of these words in your spouse. However, words we have spoken in our marriage become "onomatopoeias" the moment we act upon them. There is no differentiation between the word and the action. What a pleasing sound to the ear :)

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