Marriage Is More Than Two People…

“It is commonly though that the number of marriages which are more disappointing is greater than of those which give more blessedness,” observed one author. “But the enlargement and enrichment of personality, the proper training of children, the performance of duty … the continuance of the family … represent solid reasons for a solid marriage, and even if the family has to secure advantages of far greater worth…. Marriage is not to be regarded as an affair of simply two individuals. It has relation to society and to humanity…. Knowing that the destruction of the family aids in the disintegration of … society, its members should labor for their success.” “Study the causes back of divorces and separations,” observed another on the subject, “and one finds that usually they begin in trivial things,—an irritating habit or an offensive opinion persisted in on the one side and not endured philosophically on the other; a petty selfishness indulged on the one side and not accepted humorously on the other—that is, the marriage is made or unmade by small … things… Its performance depends upon the wisdom and sense with which one conquers a succession of readjustments of … ideas … and desires…. Marriage is a business as well as sentimental partnership…. The success … depends as much on the care and intelligence with which she spends the money as it does on the energy and steadiness with which he earns it…. Whenever one or the other fails, trouble begins…. The woman … is so positioned that she can cultivate and enforce simplicity and thrift, the two habits which make most for elegance and for satisfaction in the material things of life…. But the most essential obligation … is establishing a household on a sound moral basis. If a child is anchored to basic principles, it is because his home is built on them. If he understands integrity as a man, it is usually because a home has done its work well.” Saving a marriage, and making a success is worth all the time and effort and self-discipline it takes.