To You Who Begin Life Together…

Songs of spring and love and of undying devotion are good to the ears of all of us. There

would be much missing without music and moonlight and romance. But lovely as all these are,

there must be more for the making of a lasting marriage, for making a good and solid life, and

for keeping alive the love and sweetness of life. In June we may walk together holding hands,

with adoring eyes and high hearts. But many precious things are perishable, if they are not

understood, not carefully cultivated. Life isn’t all serenity. It changes pace. It changes color. It is

sometimes light and lovely, sometimes difficult and discouraging. There are fair and pleasant

days; there are days of illness, of disappointment, sometimes of sorrow. But the sacred

covenant of marriage does not contemplate that any of these will make any difference in

loyalty and love. Marriage is not only for the brighter moments, not only for prosperous and

pleasant days, but for all the days there are, endlessly and forever―and it cannot well be built

on less than common ideals, common purposes, willingness to rear a family, usefulness, and

sincere service. And no one should marry the remotest possibility in mind that the marital ties

might sometime be severed. And you who begin life together: Don’t let any unkind comment,

any act of inconsideration start its widening wedge between you two. There will be moods you

will not understand; there will be differences; you will try each other’s patience at times. No

two people, however much in love, think or act in all things altogether alike. Don’t let

differences grow, don’t magnify them, don’t brood about them; bring them into the open; face

facts fairly. Avoid hasty words and quick conclusions; reserve judgment; build and encourage

each other and never belittle. Avoid extravagance; live within your means; trust and be true to

your trust. Forgive; forget; don’t let the errors of the past keep coming back to drive a wider

wedge. Be prayerful and patient; live with faith and forbearance; be a blessing to each other

always and forever, and don’t lose the loveliness of looking down the years of life together.

Hold to what you have in June a let it be so, sacredly and blessedly in December.