Hi Everyone! (Lesson 9)

     I have to start this post by sharing my gratitude for my Family 300 course. I am learning so much in such a short amount of time, and I feel that if I took this class for a full year which would be three times, I would still need to take more time to sink it all in. I continue to be astounded at how much our two texts work hand in hand (whoever figured that out is a genius). Drawing Heaven Into You Marriage  by H. Wallace Goddard and The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman are the most profound marriage self-help books that I have ever read (I think I may have said that before!). I also love how our chapters coordinate with General Conference talks that we have studied: everything comes full circle and ties together so beautifully! I am overjoyed at this opportunity in my life to improve and change.

     This week, we have been openly challenged to think about things in ways that we may never have done before and especially to behave in ways that we may have overlooked in the past. From Gottman, "... the basis for coping effectively with relationship issues, whether solvable or perpetual, is to communicate basic acceptance of your partner's personality" (157). Further, we have been challenged by Gottman to soothe our partner. I have been imagining what the entire world could be like if everybody took these teachings to heart. However, I really need to focus on what my marriage can look like if I employ these beautiful, peace-filled ideas. I do not find it a simple task to communicate acceptance or soothe somebody when I am hurt. But this is precisely what we are challenged to do within the scope of these chapters.

     I appreciate the work that H. Wallace Goddard did in Chapter 5 regarding emotional and physical fidelity (I read that chapter too!). In the name of service, missionary work and kindness, many have been tricked by Satan and have fallen into traps without seeing them from a distance. It is so imperative that we ALWAYS keep ourselves spiritually and emotionally safe, even when we feel that there is no physical harm in flirting, confiding in, and caring for those of the opposite sex besides our spouse if we are married. When I was growing up, I remember that my Dad would never ride  alone in a car with somebody of the opposite sex; he always set such a good example for me, and it is something I have striven to exemplify for my children as well. Additionally, I feel that as we read the Ensign or Liahona magazine, we are blessed with articles to help us with these concerns specifically. This is a hard thing, and these are hard words, but I testify that they WILL keep us safe from some of Satan's most disguised deceptions.

Sincerely,

Katie

 se Subdiscussion