Turning Towards One Another
In the book, "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" Dr. John Gottman lists Principle 3 as: "Turn towards each other instead of away". This title has obvious multiple meanings with none being negative. When I read the title of the chapter, I thought of when I first got married and I looked my new bride in the eye while we held hands and swore our vows to each other. At that time, we were facing each other in a physical, emotional and spiritual way. Dr. Gottman goes beyond the physical ways we face each other when he talks about things like: Not missing bids for affection by letting anger or negativity block it Harsh start ups, criticisms and holding grudges from past arguments are negativities that help to miss bids Not letting the "Wired World" provide distraction and pulling away ...
Elder Oaks has stated the solution to most marriage difficulties is "repentance rather than divorce", even as many countries have made it easier and easier to dissolve marriages.
ReplyDeleteThis ease of marriage dissolution has come as an unforeseen consequences of allowing wives the power to get out from under abusive relationships when the aggressive side off the equation doesn't want to relinquish. The laws have been changed to let either of the relationship move for an end to the union regardless of the other sides wishes, and therefor has given both sides an "easy out" when difficulties arise. This simplification of marriage is not what the Lord intended, and turns what is meant to be an eternal union into a legally binding union of convenience.