A Consecrated Marriage (week 9)

Society teaches us that we should have equality in marriage. This is a myth. Believing that things will be an even 50-50 split will quickly make any couple unhappy as they track and tally every action of their spouse. The remedy for this is choosing to have a consecrated marriage. One might ask, what is a consecrated marriage and what does it look like? 

Elder Neil A Maxwell described consecrations this way, "Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride."

Consecrating ourselves to God and turning over our lives to Him makes our life so much better. This is also true when it involves our chosen eternal companion. Consecration means we gladly give our best to our partner and we appreciate all that they offer. When they don't happen to meet all of our needs we approach them humbly and invite then to assist us. 

In his book Drawing Heaven into your Marriage, Goddard says, "Rather than carefully tracking every investment in our marriage, we give gladly and wholeheartedly. We give everything we have and are. And we ask God to increase our capacity so we can give yet more."

In my marriage I struggle to shake off pride and selfishness. I focus on the small things that irritate me sometimes. Here is a silly example. I like to set the table with matching plates, cups and silverware (I know! Not that important!) Well hubs doesn't like to use a glass cup. He thinks it makes his drink warm (insert eye roll). Well, I was in Walmart the other day and noticed these lovely metal insulated cups and bought him one. Silly, I know, but he was thrilled. Cold milk and a happy wife as we all drink from our matching insulated wine glasses! 

                           

By small and simple steps we consecrate ourselves and move from thinking how our needs should be met to how we can bless and serve our spouse. Goddard concludes, "Those who consecrate themselves to their marriage by bringing their whole souls as an offering to the everyday events of a relationship are building a storehouse of sweet memories. They are building an eternal relationship one brick at a time."