Feed my sheep....

When we hear the phrase ‘feed my sheep’ we often turn our thoughts to missionary work. I think this is a large part of what the Savior was teaching but not all. The Savior taught the gospel but he also served, encouraged and loved those he came into contact with. Our souls all hunger and need to be fed in different ways. I love these thoughts from Elder Ashton that teach about this principle. He taught,” Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ (John 21:16.) You can’t feed them if you don’t know where they are. You can’t feed them if you give them reason to resist you. You can’t feed them if you don’t have the food. You can’t feed them if you don’t have charity. You can’t feed them if you aren’t willing to work and share. …

“Those who need help come in all age brackets. Some of His sheep are young, lonely, and lost. Some are weary, afflicted, and worn with age. Some are in our own family, in our own neighborhood, or in the far corners of the world where we can help with fast offerings. Some are starving for food. Some are starving for love and concern.

“If we give His sheep reasons to resist us, the feeding process becomes difficult, if not impossible. No one can teach or help with sarcasm or ridicule. Dictatorship or ‘I’m right and you are wrong’ will negate all efforts to feed a wandering sheep. A wall of resistance will be built, and no one will benefit. …

“By our actions we show our love. Expressions of affection are empty if actions don’t match. All His sheep need the touch of a shepherd who cares” (“Give with Wisdom That They May Receive with Dignity,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 91)

Peace

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth , give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid ."- So much love and hope given in these few words.

I am so grateful for this scripture. It is one of my favorites. Who in this world is not seeking or wanting peace in thier lives? The world is not quick or often able to offer it. True peace comes from the Spirit and when we listen and rely on it we can find peace admist the difficulities and  heartache that is part of our journey. This week has not been an easy one and I was so grateful when someone posted a photo of this scripture on Instagram reminding me that there is peace to be found and I have  the Gift of the Holy Ghost  and the atonement of my Savior to bless me with it. 

There have been many times I have sought out this promised peace. Sometimes it's for me personally, others times for my marriage when things are not going as smoothly as I would want and lately in regards to my children as they seek more independence. I have yet to be denied the peace I seek when I ask in faith and am grateful for that blessing. 

Money, money, money....

It has been said that money is the root of all evil and this can be true when
 it is not used as it should be. It's amazing what an influence money has on relationships, and it is not uncommon to be a major issue in marriages. If a marriage can find balance in their finances and different spending habits, the marriage will be significantly stronger. Communication, flexibility and self control are key to avoiding marriage issues in the money department.
In the book "Till Debt Do Us Part", the author gives ten great financial principles to think about:
1. Financial problems are usually behavior problems rather than money problems.
2. If you continuing doing what you have been doing, you will continue getting what you have been getting.
3. Nothing (no thing) is worth risking the relationship.
4. Money spent on things you value usually leads to a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. Money spent on things you do not value usually leads to a feeling of frustration and futility.
5. We know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
6. You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need can never satisfy you.
7. Financial freedom is more often the result of decreased spending than of increased income.
8. Be grateful for what you have.
9. The best things in life are free.
10. The value of individuals should never be equated with their net worth.

Becoming one......

I read a talk by Elder Eyring this week about becoming one. In the talk he was not specific about becoming one in marriage until the end of his talk. However, the general principles of his talk can apply to not only a marriage but also relationships in general. The first is to have the Spirit with us. When my husband and I pray together to have the Spirit guide us in our decisions we find we can be unified in what is best for our family and if there are differences we are able to work through them in a way that is not contentious. Second is putting the Lord first in our lives. As we put the Lord first we are more likely to keep our covenants, serve one another, look past the imperfections, and do those things that help us draw closer together. Third we keep the commandments. I am not perfect in all of these principles. I see faults at times when I shouldn’t or forget to at times that Lord knows best for my spouse and I when things don’t make sense. However, I know can feel the difference when I am on the right track and grateful for the Atonement that allows me to figure it out.

When I think of an example of a unified couple I think of my parents. They are far from perfect but one thing they have always been unified in is their desire to live the gospel and this is what I remember most about my youth. They argued at times, and did not always see eye to eye but they were firm in their faith, and taught the importance of covenants, prayer, scripture study, and the Atonement. For me the unity is shown through their common goal of raising their children to know that they love the gospel and desire t

Marriage is fragile.....

This week in my marriage class we discussed fidelity.  We often think of infidelity as an emotional and physical relationship. Infidelity comes in many forms, including emotional without the physical. This could be relationships with co workers of the opposite sex or even online.
Being faithful to one's spouse includes being a complete level of commitment, respect and trust, not just avoiding physical contact with another.
The Savior in the book of Matthew taught : " That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"(Matthew 5:27-28)
Marriages are fragile relationships that require a great deal of time and work from both participants.
In his talk "In Praise of Those who Save", President Uchtdorf states:
"...strong marriage and family relationships do not happen just because we are members of the Church. They require constant, intentional work. The doctrine of eternal families must inspire us to dedicate our best efforts to saving and enriching our marriages and families. I admire and applaud those who have preserved and nourished these critical, eternal relationships."

Continually working on strengthening and nourishing our marriages helps reduce the need to look elsewhere for what we feel our marriage may be missing. 

Some simple steps to start with could be:

1. Appreciating our spouses by saying “I love you” and giving sincere compliments.
2. Communicating effectively, including making time to talk and nurture the marriage spiritually and physically.
3. Contemplate often and chose sacred places like the temple to do this together. -Elder Nelson

Charity....

I have learned a great deal about my marriage and myself as I have read both Goddard and Gottman’s Books. They each bring important ideas and tools for a successful marriage. Gottman covered the things that are more secular and Goddard those of a spiritual basis. I know that if I apply both of them consistently my marriage will continue to grow and become stronger. I don’t think it matters how long anyone has been married, there is always something to learn and approve on. For me, the most important thing I learned from Goodards book was in his last chapter that focused on charity. When we are seeking to have the pure love of Christ we are seeking to love someone to the point that we can overlook the imperfections and see them how Christ sees them. Can you imagine a world where we all tried to see one another as Christ does? A great place to start is on our homes with those that we love most and are hoping to spend eternity with. There were a few points in the chapter that stood out to me.

The quote by Marleen S. Williams where she states,” When you understand another person through the lens of his or here own life experiences and history, you will find it easier to interpret that person’s behavior accurately and to learn how to accommodate differences. (128)”

Or I like to see it as more of seeing past the differences that will not change, the perpetual problems that all of us experience with our spouses and even within other relationships.

Goddard also mentions in his action section a reminder that “we love Him because He loved us first. The same can apply to marriage. Our partners will love us because we first love them. Love first. Don’t wait to be loved. (131)”

No one likes to wait but I never applied the concept to the love between spouses and this is something that can be applied throughout our marriages. When there is always love being given first it makes it much harder to fall out of.

Forgiveness......

There is not one of us who has not been wronged or on the flip side wronged someone else and needed to give or receive forgiveness. We are all in need of the virtue of forgiveness from our Father in Heaven and also from those around us. It is a humbling process from either side.

I was reading in Matt 18 this week, which contains the parable of the unmerciful servant.  This parable reminds us how important it is to give the forgiveness to others that we are desperately seeking ourselves. Forgiveness is an important part of a faithful and strong marriage and family. In a 2011 Ensign article, Richard Miller a BYU professor, talked about how important forgiveness is in our families and marriages he taught,” In order for a marriage to be successful, there also needs to be forgiveness. Repentance and forgiveness are complementary gospel principles, and both are necessary in order for us to progress spiritually.

Resentment is one of the worst poisons in marriage. It doesn’t ruin a marriage overnight. Rather, it is like decay that gradually and silently damages your teeth. Forgetting to brush your teeth once doesn’t ruin your teeth; however, numerous instances of neglect over many years will. Similarly, resentment accumulates gradually, often without us even noticing it. If left untreated, it builds up over a number of years to the point where it destroys love.

Just as our sins and weaknesses are washed away through repentance, forgiveness washes away the hurts and emotional injuries that must be anticipated in being married to someone who is imperfect.

Forgiveness is the perfect antidote for the poison of resentment. It neutralizes our hurt feelings and makes room in our hearts for love to flourish and grow. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“All of us carry excess baggage around from time to time, but the wisest ones among us don’t carry it for very long. They get rid of it. … Often … the things we carry are petty, even stupid. … If you resent someone for something he has done—or failed to do—forget it. We call that forgiveness. It is powerful, spiritual medicine.”

These same principles apply within a marriage, and perhaps more so. The best response to being hurt is, as President Packer implied, to get over it. Marriage is too important for us to clutter our minds and hearts with resentment that is created by dwelling on the faults and weaknesses of our spouse. We need to forgive and move on.” (Ensign, September 2011)

How grateful I am for the Savior and His atonement that makes it possible to receive forgiveness for my sins and find the strength to seek and offer forgiveness to others.

Anger....

How often have we lost our tempers? I could probably say too many times to count right? Anger and it’s avoidance must be something I need to work on as not only did we have the article this week but in my New Testament class I read in Matt 5:22 how we are not to be angry with our brother and had a great quote in my scriptures next to the verse from President Monson. The quote talked about how important it was that we control our anger and it is our decision to do so.

Though difficult at times, it really is our decision whether or not we lose our temper. My husband often tells our kids that we don’t have control of others actions but we do have control over how we respond to them.

However, it does seem easier to respond in anger to those we love, like our spouses, than to others that do not hold a significant part in our lives. But, like Elder Robbins teaches in his talk, this ability to choose whom we become angry at proves we can control our anger. “No one makes us mad. Others don’t make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose!” (Robbins, 2007)

And when we choose anger, we lose the Spirit, self-control and often emotionally hurt the ones we love most. I wish it was easier to keep a temper in check but the scriptures have taught us that we can as we lead our families by persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness and meekness and by love unfeigned. (D&C 121:42-42) As we focus on using these attributes in our family relationships we are less likely to let anger become one of our choices.

Humility is the antidote....

When I think of the big and the little arguments that my husband and I have had over the years, and we have had our share, I’m realizing that the core issue dwindles down to pride. Either not wanting to admit defeat, feeling as though our needs come before others, inability to take advice or learn from the other, the list goes on. The world celebrates the idea of individualism, making one feel happiness can only come when one’s individual needs are pursued and met first. It is no longer the two of us but often a you and I perspective. Goddard in his book, “Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage” makes a good point when he states,” The natural man is inclined to love himself and fix others. God has asked us to do the opposite. We are to fix ourselves by repenting, and to love others.” (69)

Honestly, who really wants to admit when they are wrong, are not cutting it or needing to make a change for the better? It’s so much easier to make it someone else’s problem or turn away from what we know to be right and this is pride. President Ezra Taft Benson in his amazing talk “Beware of Pride” taught,” Pride adversely affects all our relationships-our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us where He is. Do we desire the same for others?”

Pride is something we all experience and is a constant work in action to remove it from our lives. The key to doing so is humility and repentance. President Benson in the same talk gives us a list of things we can do to become more humble:

-Lifting others as high or higher than we are.

-Be wiling to receive counsel and chastisement.

-Forgive those who have offended us.

-Rendering selfless service. (This includes within our marriage and family)

-Putting God first and submitting to His will.

Our marriages and our other relationships will become stronger if we chose humility over pride. “Rather than be bothered by the things we want to change in our partners and marriages, we can learn to accept humanness and flaws in our partners. We can laugh at the foibles that bedevil all of us. We can pray for mercy for ourselves and our partners. Because each of us desperately needs mercy, we can offer mercy to each other (Goddard, 85).”

Turning in the right direction.....

I really loved the chapter our class focused on this week. It was all about turning toward your partner and not away.  As I read I thought about my husband and I's relationship and the little things we do that fall under this category. I did not even realize we were doing things that strengthen a marriage and draw us closer. We do quite a few things that are recommended on Gottman's list. Just the other day we were texting each other and seeing how each others day was going. Years ago a Bishop recommended to the priesthood that they hold hands with their wife when they pray as a couple, and we have been doing that since. The little things really are key here. The text, questions about one's day, running boring errands together, praying together and spending the mundane parts of our lives with one another. The list of possible ways to turn towards someone important to you is long yet simple. A text or act of service often takes just a moment. 
The section of reading that really stood out to me was when Gottman discusses "missing" a bid because it is wrapped up in anger or negative emotions. This is where I see an opportunity for me to improve not only in the relationship with my husband but also with my teenagers. For example, my gluten free daughter was angry yesterday claiming there was nothing for her to eat. My response referred to her pickiness. This was far from helpful. I missed that her anger was actually a bid for help to find something to eat because she was stressed and tired. How different that moment would have looked if I had offered to help her find something instead of my original response.
"...focus on the bid, not on the delivery." (92). I think these words of advice may just save me a confrontation or two or three. 

Map of love...well, a Love Map

In the reading this week, I was able to relate to the importance of love maps, or being intimately familiar with what is going on in your spouses life. When my husband and I got married we did not have kids for five years. We worked through the infertility, the bed rest when I was pregnant, and then the triplets came. My husband was working fulltime and going to nursing school full time, finances were tight and we had three preemie newborns that were our greatest joy but also our greatest struggle. We both went into survival mode; our lives became shifts around each other to meet the needs of our babies. Eventually, my husband finished school and was working hours that allowed him to be home more and the babies became more independent. It was at this time our marriage began to struggle. One day after a large argument, we just looked at each other and realized we did not really know the people standing in front of each other like we used to. Our love maps had lost their detail and direction.

The two of us had been in survival mode for a long time, not recognizing the changes and growth happening in each other’s lives. As we came to this realization we began to remember what was most important and that was our relationship. We began to spend more time together, without the kids, have meaningful conversations again and remembered the covenants that we had made and drew strength from them.

I love the quote by Elder Bruce C. Hafen used in Goddard’s book “Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage”, he states, “When troubles come, the parties to a contractual marriage seek happiness by walking away. They marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they’re receiving what they bargained for. But when troubles come to a covenant marriage, the husband and wife work them through. They marry to give and to grow, bound by the covenants to each other, to the community, and to God (Goddard, 46).”

The concept of a love map helps us truly know our spouses, strengthening the friendship and then the love, thus making it possible to get through the challenging times without seeing the need to walk away as the solution.

The Four Horsemen.....

Have you ever been reading a self-help book and as you read along you begin to think of other people as they describe issues and personalities that need improvement, and how they would benefit from the advice given? This week as I read in “the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work”, I had an eye opening experience. The author John Gottman who is famous for his Love Lab and other studies in marriage, discusses the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. However, these four discussed are not the cause of the end of the world but the end of a marriage. One of these four listed is stonewalling. As I read this description, I realized that this is what my husband does on occasion, disengages from the conflict or stress, which studies show 80% of men do. I began to get excited thinking how I am going to find out how to stop it from happening and how he can change it, and then I kept reading. In those next few paragraphs, I came to a very quick realization. Dr. Goddard states,” …people stonewall as a protection against feeling psychologically and physically overwhelmed, a sensation we call flooding. It occurs when your spouse’s negativity is so intense and sudden it leaves you shell shocked. You feel so defenseless against this sniper attack that you learn to do anything to avoid a replay (Goddard, pg.40).” In those few paragraphs I learned that sometimes my husband stonewalls and sometimes I’m a sniper. We have been married for twenty years and our positives outweigh our negatives, but it looks like we have some work to do.

Stonewalling is only one of the Four Horsemen or predictors of the demise of marriage. The other three include criticism, contempt, and defensiveness. The following video from The Gottman Institute gives a great explanation of each:

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage, we all send out one these horsemen at times. I think it’s important no matter how long we have been married to take a moment and evaluate if we are sending them out too often or if they are beginning to take residence in our lives and relationships.

Goddard mentions that trust, commitment and friendship is the basis to a sound relationship and none of those comes automatically. They all take time and effort and if that effort is spent sending out horsemen the relationship will be unable to thrive.

Wolves.....

When my husband and I were first married, his Abuelo, who just turned 99, would often share stories. One afternoon, he shared the story of the two wolves that live within us. Later, I realized this is a famous Cherokee tale but at the time I had never heard of it. The story basically goes like this:

A grandfather is talking with his grandson and he says there are two wolves inside of us which are always at war with each other. 

One of them is a good wolf, which represents things like kindness, bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred and fear.

The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?”

The grandfather quietly replies the one you feed.

I thought of this story as I read the article, “Covenant Marriage” by Elder Bruce C. Hafen. In his talk he mentions how every marriage is tested by three wolves. The first is natural adversity. Second is personal imperfection and third is excessive individualism (Hafen, Ensign, 1996). We can often see how adversity and imperfection could create a wedge in relationships but individualism on the other hand, how is it such a challenge?

In the dictionary individualism is defined as being independent and self-reliant. It can also be used to describe what makes each of us unique based on our pursuits. These are not negative traits when speaking as an individual. However, when one becomes married they are not only individuals but also equal partners to a husband or wife. Marriages based on primarily individual needs and whether or not those needs are being met cannot thrive. It is a joint effort balancing individuality and reaching out through love and service to our spouses.

The Family Proclamation describes what we can be working on to find that balance. It states:

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”

Proclaim....

“Marriage is sacred to those who live by their religions and offers unique fulfillment to those who find meaning in the secular realm. Its dynamic allows two people to find a life that could not be found alone, for marriage becomes greater then just the two persons. Rising from the most basic human needs, marriage is essential to our most profound hopes and aspirations.”

-Obergefell vs. Hodges

 In 2004 the famous case of Obergefell v Hodges was presented to the Supreme Court, passing the law that same sex marriage was no longer a decision of State and the right to be married was to be granted throughout the country. Marriage as a historical foundation to our society was redefined. The thought that follows for many Christians is what this means in their defense of marriage and family between man and woman as it has been ordained of God.

Many of us have friends and family that are gay and now married. I have an uncle that I adore who was married to his partner last year. Elder Russel M. Nelson shares these thoughts in his talk, “Disciples of Jesus Christ-Defenders of Marriage” he states,” Brothers and sisters, ungirded by incontrovertible truth, proclaim your love for God! Proclaim your love for all human beings” with malice towards none, with charity for all.” They as children of God are our brothers and sisters. We value their rights and feelings. But we cannot condone efforts to change divine doctrine. It is not for man to change.”

When placed in these situations, I think of the Savior. He loved, healed and served others without judgment. However, he stood firm in His doctrine and what He knew to be true. The world did not cause him to waver and we can learn from His example. We love and serve without judgment but defend what we know to be true. This may be through example, our votes, and in casual conversations. In Romans 1:16 Paul taught, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”

The first of many....

This is the first of many posts I will be making for the marriage course I am taking on my way to a degree in Family Studies. I know the title may sound a bit like a cheesy romance novel but as hard as I tried, I could not come up with one witty or catchy. It has grown on me, and I really do believe that what we do now and the choices we make has an impact on what we want for our forever. Right? Marriage is not excluded from this.

So this week we touched on marriage and divorce. I am not an expert at either. I have been married for twenty years and still don’t have it completely figured out yet and divorce is a sensitive subject. I think we have all had friends or loved ones where we didn’t think they were packing their bags fast enough to get out of a toxic situation and others that we were blindsided and wondered what happened that couldn’t be worked out. I am not here to say how others should live in their shoes but I do know that study after study has shown that if it is something couples can work out it is better for society and children to stay as an intact family.

Though it is constantly being redefined the family dynamic and marriage are important. In an article I read they ask the question, “Why should we care about marriage?”

 Here is the simple response,” Marriage is not merely a private arrangement; it is also a complex social institution. Marriage fosters small cooperative unions-also known as stable families-that enable children to thrive, shore up communities and help family members to succeed during good times and to weather the bad times.” - State if Our Unions 2012;The National Marriage Project

Marriage makes a difference and we need that difference in the challenging world we live in today.