As you can see, becoming truly “one” takes a lot of time. If a person values something, he will be willing to invest time, money and effort into it. A farmer will spend many hours working in his fields; he will spend much money to buy equipment, seed, fertilizer, etc.; and he will put much energy into making it successful. He is willing to do this because he knows that if he does it well, he will reap a bountiful harvest. Or if a person opens a business, he has to invest a lot of time researching, preparing and finally opening that venture; he will have to invest some capital, perhaps a lot of money and equipment; and he will spend a lot of energy working on the project. Again, he is willing to do these things because he knows that he will make money to support his family if he does it well.
The same is true with a marriage. What harvest do you want to reap—love, joy, peace, etc.? In order to get those things, a person must be willing to invest some time, some money and some effort. It doesn’t just happen because you are living together. Spend time together often; spend some money and go with your spouse out for a dinner, a concert, or on a tour somewhere; the wife could buy a new shirt or socks and surprise her husband or make him a special meal; make the effort to try to please your spouse, doing things that will make them feel really loved and appreciated. Become truly “one” in every way with your spouse.