Reflections on Marriage

Henry Eyring reflected on 52 years of marriage with Kathleen Johnson. 

“I have become a better person as I have loved and lived with her. …We have been complementary beyond anything I could have imagined. …I realize now that we grow together into one — slowly lifting and shaping each other, year by year.” He said the differences between him and his wife have combined to form a better whole.

“The happiness that came from our becoming one built faith in our children and grandchildren that marriage could be a continuing source of satisfaction for them and their families.”

He acknowledged that not all marriages produce happiness. One prime factor, he said, can make the difference between being happy or unhappy. “Where there is selfishness, natural differences of men and women often divide,” he said. “Where there is unselfishness, differences become complementary and provide opportunities to help and build each other.”

It’s essential for marriage partners to replace self-interest with charity and benevolence, he noted. “Only then will people be able to make the hourly unselfish sacrifices necessary for a happy marriage and family life — and to do it with a smile.”

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So much wisdom here - "Hourly, unselfish sacrifices ... done with a smile" - definitely are key factors. 

Lately I've done a lot of pondering about the "becoming" process as I develop my discipleship of Christ and my potential as a child of God. This quote is a reminder to me of the "becoming" process that Joe and I are committed to as eternal companions. 

Read more from Henry Eyring here