What have you learned from other marriages around you? We can all learn from other relationships, whether that means learning what to do or what not to do.
My grandparents were married for 69 years before they were separated by the death of my grandmother. Were they always happy? No, to be honest, they weren’t. They were however there for each no matter what. They faced a lot of hard times together, but remained strong and faithful.
My grandmother became rather difficult in her later years, due to ill health, but my grandfather always did whatever he could to care for her and make her comfortable. He remained devoted to her and went out of his way for her even though he was suffering great pain in his battle with cancer. He said it wasn’t about him, and that he would take care of his mate and the mother of his children as long as he was able, and he did until her last day.
Another marriage I have observed for many years is apathetic. Each spouse does his or her own thing. They rarely do things together unless it’s for show, speak only when they must, and have lost not only love for each other but also respect. I feel sorry for them and would not want to live in the prison of an apathetic marriage. They weren’t always this way; apathy developed over time. It was a combination of blatantly selfish choices on both their parts and lack of regard for the relationship and for each other.
One marriage shows deep, honest, and enduring love and devotion combined with self sacrifice, while the other paints a clear picture of what happens when people refuse to put the other person first or the marriage first, at least some of the time. One is an example of a good marriage and the other is example of what not to do, but both provide important relationship lessons.