Marriage and Divorce

by Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger

05 Sep 2007 05:45 PM

Marriage is a life-long commitment that requires a great deal of work on a daily basis. It is not easy to care for a family and take on the added responsibilities that come along with it. If you are unhappily married, it can be extremely difficult to handle the conflicts and stress that arises within your family life. There are very few situations where divorce is the first option. It is important to make sure that you have worked through every possible solution before turning to divorce. Here are five areas to consider:

1) It is important that the partners be equally yoked when it comes to caring for the family. This will be different for every couple. You should divide the duties and responsibilities so that you each feel that it is equal. The tasks do not need to be split exactly fifty-fifty, but the overall feeling should be one of shared responsibility and help.

2) It is important to look for the goodness in your spouse on a daily basis. You can even take it a step farther and thank your spouse every day for something different, or compliment him in some way. This will change the entire feeling of your marriage. You will be surprised at how it changes the way you view your relationship. Your spouse may begin to respond in a similar matter.

3) Take time to deal with your financial issues. This is an extremely important aspect of every marriage relationship. It is important to realize that the stress from finances is a leading cause of divorce in the Untied States. If you need to you can seek help as a couple in this area.

4) If things are truly bad you should go and visit a marriage counselor before your do anything permanent. Additionally you should talk to your bishop; he can provide counsel and resources to help you work through your relationship problems. If there have been issues that call for serious repentance by one spouse, then you may consider both visiting with the bishop, separately and together.

5) It is important to realize that no one wants to stay in a miserable relationship. You can work towards making the relationship a happy one. Your children are affected if you are constantly fighting with each other, but they are also affected if you choose to get divorced. Working through your problems in a positive matter can teach your children important life skills.

It is important to refrain from judging those who are divorced. Every situation is unique, and there are situations where divorce may be the best course of action. Also one spouse may simply refuse to work through any problems, and the other spouse may be left as a victim. It is important to be accepting of everyone, and respectful of his or her situation.

Related Articles:

General Conference: "Divorce"

Committing to Eternal Marriage

Given Up on Your Marriage?

Learn more about Miriam Caldwell

Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children.

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