Okay, before you get your heart a thumpin' thinking I am engaged, I am not. That is not what we are going to be talking about tonight. I have been thinking about marriage a lot lately. This is most likely because it seems like my whole graduating class is married by now :) Being out of Utah has opened up my eyes to many ways of life. I have had the experience to see broken families and broken marriages. I have seen civil weddings and felt the peace from Latter-Day Saint weddings. It all has been almost too overwhelming for me.
Not too long ago, I went for a run with a couple of my friends. As we were talking/running/walking, the topic of marriage was brought up. A good friend of mine has recently been going through a divorce, and seeing the pain that it has caused her, has frightened me. While we were talking about this situation, the conversation led to questions like "well, maybe marriage isn't for everyone?" "Maybe some people are just meant to be alone?" and other opinions like, even when people try their hardest sometimes it just doesn't work out. When you meet someone and are with them for so long, you both change, and sometimes just drift.
I threw in my thoughts such as... "Well, it has to be with the right person at the right time and in the right place.." So on and so forth but it just sounded silly.
After I was dropped off, I was thinking about this, and how it made me feel. Fairy tales? nah.. Marriage? AH!.. I didn't like this. I didn't like feeling that this was reality, and you just had to "get over it, and accept it"
As I was thinking about the role models in my life, I thought about my parents. I thought about the marriage they have, the trials they have gone through, and the ways they made it through them. I knew that life wasn't perfect, and neither were they, So I pondered why and how they could, even amidst trial, pain, heartache, sickness, finance, stressfulness, they could still tell me after twenty-eight years, that they still loved each other.
And it was that "silly answer" I threw in. It has to be with the right person at the right time and in the right place. My parents had a peaceful, private confirmation from my loving Heavenly Father years ago that It was RIGHT, and they both lived their lives worthily so they could stand proud before our Savior and get married for time and all eternity. Through the example of my parents, I understand the importance of getting married in the Temple. I understand that though marriage will not be "a walk in the park" that if you rely on the Lord and honor, serve and love your spouse that you will feel heavenly strength. As my parents are celebrating another year of marriage in a couple days, I thank them for their example of love, faith, and hope. Thank you Mom and Dad. I love you.
