Lessons Learned Early In Marriage

Yesterday our lesson in Relief Society was on Family: The Sweetest Union for Time and Eternity. As I sat listening to the lesson that was presented I reflected on all of the happy times I have had in my life because I married my husband. One flash-back came to me while I pondered the lesson and it reminded me of just one of the many lessons that I have learned while being married to Mar-Kay.


Mar-Kay and I had only been married a few weeks and so far it had been the happiest time of my entire life. In my eyes no one could possibly be more in love than we were. Mar-Kay was always so considerate and I felt I had found the perfect man. It was his desire to make sure that I was completely happy and so for Family Home Evening one Monday night he decided that we should have companion inventory. (Incidentally he got that idea while serving his mission). Mar-Kay took out a piece of paper and a pen and explained that we were to write a list of things that bothered us about each other. I knew all too well my faults and weaknesses and assumed he had finally discovered them. I imagined that his list would be quite lengthy. I even thought that he might have to use both sides of the paper to capture them all. We each went to a separate room so as not to be distracted. It was the longest 15 minutes of my life. At first I tried to think of something I had done to make him uphappy, but my mind came up blank. I then racked my brain to try and come up with something that bothered me about him and again, nothing came to mind. Finally in desperation I wrote down one or two insignificant things. If you were to ask me today what they were, I could not tell you. We met together after the allotted time and traded papers. To my utmost astonishment, the paper he handed me was blank! THERE WAS NOTHING THERE! I felt so horrible having written something on my paper and apologized profusely. In Mar-Kay's mind and heart, I was perfect, nothing I could do or say would change how much he loved me. It was his intent to please me and he just wanted to know if there was anything he could personally improve upon. This was a valuable teaching experience for me.

Lessons I learned:

• Look only for the good in your spouse and build upon his strengths
• NEVER find fault in others especially your spouse
• Watch out because Mar-Kay can be tricky

Because of our temple marriage

I have the peace of knowing that

Mar-Kay and I can be Together Forever!

Nothing gives me greater joy.