Sacrifice

What to do when things get difficult?

The LDS author, H. Wallace Goddard, PhD, reaches out to married couples with a solid understanding that things are absolutely going to get difficult, “God knows that what we obtain too easily we esteem too lightly,” (Goddard,  2009). Goddard describes marriage as two halves of two different home designs attempting to align together to make one home. He puts a very strong emphasis on sacrifice being the necessary element in constructing this home.

                “It takes strength of character to see errors in a partner’s grammar or perception and yet resist the temptation to correct needlessly. It takes godly goodness to see weakness and mistakes in our partners and yet resist the temptation to smirk. It takes heavenly humility to be proven right and yet meekly acknowledge that we all make mistakes. It takes divine grace to discard or limit the hobbies that prevent us from helping around the house,” (Goddard, 2009).

At the very beginning of this chapter on obedience and sacrifice Goddard posed scenarios of married couples who were lacking sacrifice. I was shocked at how familiar some of them were to me. Some I pointed my ugly finger at my husband but most of the time the finger was pointed directly at me. This one scenario in particular really humbled me, “He is gentle and deliberate. She races to decisions without giving him time to participate,” (Goddard, 2009). Goddard explains these scenarios like this, “Regardless of who we marry, there will inevitably be irritations,” (Goddard, 2009).

So what do you do when things get difficult? You make sacrifices, repent and increase your obedience to God.

Goddard, H. W. (2007). Drawing heaven into your marriage: powerful principles with eternal results. Fairfax, VA: Meridian Pub.