Divorce

Hi Everyone!
        This is a sensitive topic for me. And honestly it is just a sensitive topic in general. My parents were divorced when I was 17 years old. It was a rough reality for me to embrace but soon coped successfully with it. Within 6 months of my parents divorce one of my best friends in High School also had her parents divorce. Divorce is something that just breaks my heart. On my mission I knew several families that the parents were divorced. While I understand that divorce is sometimes appropriate, I believe that too many divorces are happening out of sheer not trying hard enough.
        This evening I had the chance to listen to General Priesthood Session for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In it there were wonderful inspirational talks about needing to try harder to cherishing your spouse. President Uchtdorf, a member of the 1st Presidency of the Church said this, "A good marriage is built brick by brick, day by day". He also said this, "Every family needs saving." These words struck me deep. As members of the Priesthood we were taught that if you want to find the good things in life you will, you will also find the bad things if that is what you are looking for. The point was that too many people are not looking for the good things in their marriage. Wanting to "trade in for the newest thing, finding that their spouse is not young enough, smart enough, fun enough." This mindset is poison to marriages. If you want to make it work you will. Simply put. The Lord Jesus Christ has taught us to give it our best and his grace will make up for the rest.  A marriage that is centered around Christ will be successful. That is one thing I am sure. After hearing these wise words I came home to my wife and just wanted her to know that I loved her so dearly. She truly is the love of my life, I want her to know that I will always look for the Good in her and our Marriage. I hope some of you find a sense of drive to push forward and make these good things in life good!

Parenting

Hi Everyone!

       I often wonder how I am going to raise my children with my wife. Sometimes it frightens me but many a times it brings me excitement and that desire to connect with my children and guide them throughout their life. While my parents parenting styles were not perfect they were perfect for who I am. Now that I am an adult I look back often with gratitude in my heart for how my parents raised me. 

       My parents like I said were not perfect but they always let me know how much they loved me. Now I could go on and on about each thing my parents did to parent me, but what I am going to boil it down to this: Loving unconditionally. As my parents did this it created a strong trust between both my mom and my dad. The other thing it created was mutual respect. My father would tell me often, "I love you unconditionally". He would always emphasize the unconditionally part. Because he did this I knew that whatever I did I knew he would love me regardless. This fueled me to want to be a good son for both my mom and dad. 

        In this day and age that is one thing I want to do for my kids. They will know that their father loves them, they will also know that I am their parent and that even if they do not like something it does not mean that I do not love them. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I heard some great council that I will have to raise my children differently than my parents raised me. I was also told that it is not impossible. Active parenting is the cure to having successful families. Successful does not mean flawless, it means its achieving its purpose in raising future families and members of society.