What makes a marriage work ???

[amyDAST]

Two people willing to work things out. Communication, understanding & compassion towards each other. Go on dates every month (even if it's just us in the living room watching a movie that we pick out together we still love our time). I think above all it's the time you invest into the relationship that makes it last.   
I lived & dated my husband for five years before we got married. We both wanted to get married but we made it clear we didn't want to rush into it. We were introduced to each other through friends when we were teenagers & even though we were in love we knew marriage for us meant forever & just enjoyed hanging out with each other for awhile, then lived together before saying it's time. I know things can change over time but I have seen so many other couples that don't even talk on a daily basis & seem so eager to do things apart from their spouse. I find that extremely sad. I am thankful everyday for my husband. We have a tight family bond with our kids (mostly due to us being raised without that bond on both of our childhoods). And of course we have little arguments that are sporadic but we always find a way to communicate so we are both heard & never just brush it off.

[king4cash]

Always the 3 C's
both must be committed to each other
each one must communicate all the time
and  be willing to compromise on issues that they disagree
This is the key to long marriages

[camellia0]

I believe it's communication that makes a relationship work. That along with honesty, then any of us could be married that long.