Last week, I had the opportunity to read Minor Adjustments, an LDS fiction novel by Rachael Renee Anderson. The premise is one we’ve heard before—a child is left an orphan, and an unwilling person is chosen as guardian, only to fall in love with the child and decide to follow through. This book, however, brings in a lot of elements that keep it from being mundane. It’s set in the gorgeous land of Australia, the guardian isn’t even related to the child, and there are moments of tenderness and humor throughout. I enjoyed it a lot.
There’s one theme throughout the book that I particularly wanted to mention here on the marriage blog. Our main character, Devon, recognizes the impact the social worker for the case, Stella, had on his outlook, and he realizes that he can’t live without her. It’s not just their physical attraction, although that is present. He understands on a deep level that she is good for him, that she brings out the best in him, and he always wants to be the man he is when they are together. This, to me, is the basis for a truly great lasting relationship.
So often we hear of people choosing to be together because of chemistry, or because they always have fun when they go out. These qualities are important, but they can fade. Chemistry changes as you get older, and what was fun to you when you were twenty just isn’t as much fun when you’re forty. If you base your relationship on fleeting things, you’ll find that your relationship flees.
But if you base your relationship on lasting things, like, the way he makes you feel of worth, or the way she encourages you to follow your dreams, that’s where you’ll find the seeds of a relationship that will last forever.
As you think about marriage, choose the person who makes all the difference in your life. Choose the one who makes you feel good about yourself, who values the inner you, and who has their eyes on spending forever with you. Forever is a beautiful thing.
Minor Adjustments was published in 2011 by Bonneville Books. While it is an LDS fiction novel, it can be enjoyed by readers of all faiths.
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