10/14/2026
Gratitude
In a Marriage Arrangement
War of the Roses
Beloved,
Men. Are you grateful to God for your wife?
Woman. Are you grateful that God brought you to your husband?
Gratitude in the Bible is a heart posture and active command that recognizes God as the ultimate source of all goodness, provision, and salvation, expressed through worship, obedience, and thankfulness in every circumstance.
The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) were a series of civil wars fought in England for control The Wars of the Roses were a series of 15th-century English civil wars fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York for control of the throne. Triggered by the mental instability of Lancastrian King Henry VI, the decades-long conflict saw brutal power shifts, culminating in the ruthless usurpation of the throne by Yorkist King Richard III. The feud finally ended when the exiled claimant Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, married Elizabeth of York to unify the rival factions, and crushed the final Yorkist uprising to secure the stable new Tudor dynasty.
The War of the Roses (1989), starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner and directed by Danny DeVito, explores a marriage that falls apart, turning a divorce into a bitter battle over a luxurious house. Oliver and Barbara Rose begin as a happy couple, build a wealthy life together, and raise two children. Over the years, their marriage deteriorates, and Barbara decides she wants a divorce.
The biggest problem is that neither wants to give up their beautiful home. Their disagreement escalates into an increasingly outrageous battle as they try to force each other to leave. Their hatred becomes more important than their own happiness, showing how pride and material possessions can destroy a relationship.
The Wars of the Roses taught me a valuable lesson: to give up material things for Christ, become a disciple of Christ, and turn followers of Elzie Crush into disciples by sharing the Gospel of Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ. I loved that movie, even though they both died. What a shame that many marriages end up this way. Material things have no value in heaven.
God bless