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What would you NOT do for your family?

On a recent post I queried what you would be willing to do for your family. Now I want to consider the opposite of that question.

Romeo and Juliet is not the world's best love story. At best it's an amusing story. At worst it's a farce.

The world's best love story is written by the millions of couples all over the world not dying for each other but living for each other. Giving up portions of themselves, abandoning desires for things really needed, and loving someone enough to put their desires, goals, and needs above your own - that's real love.

All too frequently I see people enter a marriage "until it's inconvenient for me" not "until death do us part" or "for time and all eternity" as should be the norm. What did you think your marriage would be? Did you think you could put two different people from varied backgrounds and with varied ideas together and NOT have some conflict? Of course marriage is difficult. I know of NOTHING in life that is worth having that is not difficult to obtain. Really.

And what are you holding back for? Is there something more sacred? More holy? More worthy? Is there a greater call? A greater mission?

My mother told me when I was first married that the idea that each partner gives 50-50 to the marriage partnership is wrong. You must give 100-100. If I am not giving 100% to my marriage, why not? Who am I dividing my attention with? Does not my wife deserve all of my love, attention, thought, devotion, soul?

And what is the reward of such devotion and love? Peace in this world and eternal exaltation in the world to come. Who would give that up for anything? ANYTHING?!? Is there anything that is worth losing everything?

No.

So when I am given the opportunity to choose between my own selfish pride and satisfying the one that I love, the one that is mine, the one who has given herself to me completely, the one on whom my fondest dreams and goals center - the choice seems obvious. It is NOT easy, but it is clear. Who do I want to make happy if not her?

Life is wonderful. My wife is loving an patient. She is sweet and kind. She is also tough as nails and will not take my weakness without trying to help me become stronger and more refined. She completes me entirely, making me whole and good and better. I love her desperately and need her more than my next breath, for without her there is no life.

Thank God for His tender mercies.

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