Hello!!
Let’s talk today about what really makes marriage
wonderful! Perhaps a little about what does not make marriage so wonderful either?
The quote comes from chapter 3 of the book and is a
quote from Elder Robert D. Hales:
“An eternal bond doesn’t just happen as a result of
sealing covenants we make in the temple. How we conduct ourselves in this life will
determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the
blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father had given to us, we have to
keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families
will want to live with us in the eternities.”
This quote reminds me of another one I have heard a
few times, I found it referenced from a talk that was given by President Faust who retold
the tale as follows “Perhaps you have heard of
the young bride who said, “When I get married, it will be the end of my
troubles.” Her wise mother replied, “Yes, my dear, but which end?”
Marriage is not easy, Hollywood and
fairy tales may corrupt us as children and make life look like bliss once you
have made it to your dream day. They would often have you think you have it
made and no worries or issues could ever arise once you have arrived at
marriage.
One of the largest problems with
that thought process is that you have “arrived” once this becomes your mindset
you stop trying, how can you expect life to stay amazing or get better when you
stop trying?
A common problem in the LDS
community is that many young girls feel that if they can make it to their
temple of their choice to the man they love (or think they love) and believe
that marriage will just “work” for them. Haha funny, it does not work that way
and it was never meant to. Marriage is actually one of the hardest schools you
can ever be enrolled in. It exposes your selfish tendencies, weakness, and frailties
as well as your spouse’s. It is the place in your life you need to work hard
at. If you let a flower garden go on its own and forget about loving it and
taking excellent care of it, you won’t be taking any of your flowers to the
fair to show. Similarly with a marriage if you neglect it nothing wonderful
will come to it.
A healthy and functioning marriage
requires work, effort, love, devotion, patience, kindness, loads of
forgiveness, excellent communication, and so much more.
My question for you today is what
have you seen in blossoming marriages and conversely what have you seen occur
in withering marriages?
Marriage is indeed one of the great humbling grounds of life.
ReplyDeleteThe best and happiest marriages I have seen incorporate a large amount of selflessness from both parties. I met a man on my mission, named Cory Casalegno, who acknowledged his wife's hard work with their children during the long days he spent at work by ALWAYS changing EVERY diaper while he was home. His wife told us this. He just sat there smiling. I looked at them and said to myself, "I want my marriage to look like theirs."
I accept.
ReplyDeleteHrmm...
I mean wow that is so true the key to a happy marriage really does lie in being able to be selfless and loving towards your spouse on a day to day basis.
Thank you for your input!