When we enter the bonds of marriage, we know that there needs to be give and take between partners to make it work effectively. But, what we know is not always what we do. Happiness in marriage requires compromise from both people in order for peace to be maintained in the long term. To gain this state of being we can sacrifice things in our lives to be more accommodating and loving to our spouse.
“This requires a transformation of character. In serving and giving to those within our family stewardship as well as demonstrating patience and continually forgiving our spouses for all the ways they might not meet our expectations, we have the opportunity to emulate Christ, thus transforming ourselves.” (Goddard, 2009) Sacrificing our pride is probably the most effective way we can transform our character to become more Christlike in our marriage. When we yield to the will of God, we start to understand how the Lord loves each one of us, including our spouse.
Some aspects of our partner might be unseemly, annoying, or tiresome. When we apply the charitable love of Christ to our marriage and sacrifice our pride, agitation, and impatience for the well being of another; the habits that agitated us before can become humorous or even lovable quirks. Endurance and long suffering are sometimes the order that is required on our sacrificial table. Brother Kent Brooks says, “Our capacity to love a spouse deeply and our ability to which we are willing to experience great joy in marriage are commensurate with the degree to which we are willing to suffer and hurt, to labor and toil, and to persevere through moments of unhappiness, stress, disappointment and tests of our patience and love for our partners.”
Sometimes our marriages will require forgiveness in order to progress past troubling experiences. It is not always easy to sacrifice ourselves for our spouse. There may be pain and hate harbored in your heart. This is when the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help you forgive and receive forgiveness. “We need to recognize and acknowledge angry feelings. It will take humility to do this, but if we will get on our knees and ask Heavenly Father for a feeling of forgiveness, He will help us. The Lord requires us, ‘to forgive all men’ for our own good because ‘hatred retards spiritual growth.’ Only as we rid ourselves of hatred and bitterness can the Lord put comfort into our hearts…” (Faust, 2007)
When we become a person of character and begin to understand our role towards ourselves, our spouse, and God, changing does not come at such a high price. Taking the easy road does not make life easier, in fact it often makes your life more conflicted. If your marriage needs some sacrifices in order to stay vital, the best place to start is by changing yourself.
As you watch the following video look for ways the husband is sacrificing time, effort, pride etc. for his wife.
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