Marriage is a lot like making a cocktail… 

I realized being married for 14 years qualifies me to offer you the following advice from the point of reference of a mixologist. I hope that these words encourage you whether or not you are in a season of marriage. 

Opposites attract.  Combining sweet with sweet makes a whole lot of sweet. In the same fashion, combining full proof rye whiskey with a premium liqueur makes for a smooth cocktail.

Just as you would with cooking, seek out high-quality ingredients. Virtue and character are key.  Begin with great source material, the better, more mature the individual parts the more likelihood of a good outcome when combining the two.  Exceptional cocktails are combinations of high-quality ingredients. 

Bitters are not a bad thing.  Bitters are the cocktail seasoning.  Sometimes the rain and the storms are the things that reveal the reality.  Don’t be afraid of the bitter times they often end up bringing out the best in your drink. 

Last but not least, like a great marriage every great cocktail must endure and overcome some form of stress.  The stirring and shaking create conditions by which the ingredients are mixed to become something sensational.  The process of blending creates beauty. Do not despise the distress, realize that without the mixing, there can be no magic!