A Japanese man living alone in the city of Fukoka noticed that food was disappearing from his fridge. So he installed a security camera which showed someone moving around inside his house while he was away. When the police investigated, they found a 58-year-old woman that had been living in a tiny storage space in the house for almost a year!

It’s hard to believe that two people could share an address for that long without ever connecting. Sadly, many marriages fall into the same pattern. It takes effort to stay close so that “the two are united into one” (Ephesians 5:31).

Solomon’s wife has some pointers for connected living. She says, “One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover” (Song of Songs 3:1). Generating tender thoughts about our spouses can keep our hearts open to connecting when we have time to be together.

And speaking of togetherness, his wife decided, “I will search for the one I love” (v.2). She got out of bed, threw on her trusted tunic, and charged out the door to find her husband! Just like her, husbands and wives need to seek each other out despite the deterrents of long hours at work, dirty dishes, and soccer games.

Finally, Solomon’s wife catches up with him. She says, “I caught and held him tightly” (v.4). She is so happy to find her guy that she takes him to bed! Staying physically involved is a part of God’s plan for the “oneness” that makes the marriage relationship so special.

Marriage should be much more than two people sharing an address. At its best, it involves warm thoughts, time together, and physical intimacy. At its worst, it may leave you wondering, “What happened to the salami sandwich I left in the fridge?”