We Marry Potential

Divorce is a very common thing, unfortunately. The idea that half of all marriages end in divorce seems frightening to me. HALF!! 50%!! You or Me!! 1/ 2!! This statistic means 1 out of 2 marriages will end in divorce. Right?

…BUT

75% of people who are married never get divorced.

Wait a second 50%+75% =125%

? ? ?

They may seem contradictory, but they are both true.

Those who have been divorced are likely to be divorced a second, third, or fourth time. This is where the 50% comes from.

Marriage is a series of beautiful and eternal promises we have made with someone we love. It should be cherished and esteemed above all other things.

There is a funny & thoughtful quote

When I heard Robert D. Hales say this I immediately thought of my husband. I know he is wonderful, but he is not perfect. I thought about our future together and all the things I wanted! I thought how will my husband fulfill this grand potential I see in him; but more importantly how will he fulfill it the way I want him to?

Why did I think that when I should have been thinking, “How lucky am I that my husband chose to marry me!? I wonder what I can do to fulfill the potential my husband sees in me?”

Unfortunately, people are very selfish (myself included). Thinking of my husband’s potential doesn’t seem selfish, it seems like I am thinking about him and how can he be amazing? But we’re really thinking is how can the other person’s potential make my life better and how I want it to be?

So, how do we overcome the unbearable and difficult times? We sacrifice, we forgive, we love.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks tells of an LDS Bishop who counsels troubled couples to; stay active in their church attendance, pray, read the scriptures, and work on their personal shortcomings. The Bishop reported “healing was achieved 100 percent of the time.” when this counsel was followed.

I am sure it was hard for these people to fight for their marriage, but I know it would’ve been harder to give up.

An advocate and fighter for marriage once said;

“There were three parties to our marriage – my husband and I and the Lord. I told myself that if two of us could hang in there, we could hold it together.”

I believe that marriage is of God and with Him we can save anything.