I am out for a bargain; the object should be
desirable from the standpoint of its social
value, and at the same time should want me,
considering my overt and hidden assets and
potentialities. Two persons thus fall in love
when they feel they have found the best
objects available on the market, considering
the limitations of their own exchange values.
Often, as in buying real estate, the hidden
potentialities which can be developed play
a considerable role in this bargain.
from: The Art of Loving
by: Erik Fromm
Many of we Stephensons
have been talking a lot about marriage around here. We
belong to a spectacular family and extended family. And we have marriages…as our darling nieces
and nephews find loved ones. Marriages are joyous occasions and a cause
for reflection. Last weekend dear Mikele
and Seth were sealed….for time and all eternity. It’s a beautiful thing…for I do believe that
when we bring God into this ‘contract’ we
broaden our chances to have an enduring marriage…we see that our purposes are higher than just outward appearances.
Do we realize how unique we Mormons are? Very few
religions teach the truth or even believe that marriages can be
eternal. So few teach that that is what
God intends for us….for our families to be eternal. We aim for the eternities!! At the risk of sounding over the top…we aim
for thrones, principalities and powers in eternal worlds. I think most folks do believe that we are all
made in the image of God who is eternal…so why not us!!??
But I stray from the subject at hand. Pondering marriage. Theories abound about what makes a good
marriage and what qualities are required for the best mate. My thoughts are always drawn back to the
idea of arranged marriages. I realize that this is a strange platform to begin with …for it seems such a foreign concept this day
and age. But the ‘ancient’ practice gets one to thinking about what it is that makes
a marriage successful. What are the
elements of a good marriage? (please
note—this post if for ME!! I have much
to improve on)
We all want happiness.
I have learned that it is NOT my spouses responsibility to
bring me happiness. I am in charge of my
own happiness. And the only way to find real happiness is to serve one another.
Service in marriage should be easy!! There are so many diverse ways!! When we serve Love grows. We must always be on guard for our acts of selfishness.
Arranged or not…we can always serve. ..and love will grow.
Did you know that one
can literally become addicted to the state of unhappiness……..or to happiness.
Did you know that our thoughts are real, tangible objects, not
just fluffy, ethereal stuff? Here’s what
I have come to understand. A Dr Pert did some studies, and found that
every thought you have has an unique neuropeptide associated with it, and your
body, in turn, produces that unique neuropeptide
every time you experience that
particular thought, and the emotion associated with it. A neuropeptide is a simple, protein based amino acid and is
produced by your hypothalamus, the “control
center” at the base of our brain. So every time we have a thought, our
hypothalamus ‘translates’ that thought into billions of neuropeptides that are
uniquely associated with the emotion you are experiencing because of that
thought. And then our bloodstream is
flooded with billions of the unique neuropeptides associated with the emotion you have just
been experiencing. My thought,
translated into a neuropeptide, literally becomes a molecular messenger of
emotion. When in my bloodstream, these
neuropeptides are physically assimilated
by your body’s cells. The neuropeptides join
with your cells by inserting themselves into a special receptacle on
each cell’s membrane- like a key fitting into a keyhole. Each neuropeptide receptacle on a cell’s
membrane is specifically designed to fit just that one particular peptide and
no other. So once that peptide finds the right receptacle on the cell membrane,
that amino acid is absorbed into the cell.
Over time, this Dr Pert found that our cells develop more
and more unique receptacles on their membranes to capture the neuropeptides to
which they are most often exposed. Dr
Pert also found that over time, our cells begin to crave the neuropeptides to which they are most often exposed (and
have built the unique receptacles to receive.)
In fact, she found that our cells become so accustomed to the unique
peptides to which they are most often exposed that the cells cover their
membranes with nothing but those receptacles for those neuropeptides!! Which in
turn actually shut down other vital functions, and our cells become nothing but vessels to ingest the unique
peptide they most often experience.
This means that our cells start ‘telling’ our hypothalamus to produce
these particular neuropeptides because
they have developed an actual physical need for them. Many, many times I have become addicted to
Pepsi; to the point of breaking the Sabbath to obtain one. This is how these cells feel towards their
neuropeptides!! Its daunting to think
now with this information, that the only way our hypothalamus can produce the
peptides that my cells are now physically addicted to is for me to experience
the emotions that will create them!! And the only way my brain can experience
the emotions necessary to create those neuropeptides is for it to see and
experience a physical reality that will create for those emotions. If I have felt sad these last several years….my
cells are now essentially dictating to me what Im experiencing is indeed sad,
because they are controlling my emotional state. My body may actually be
physically addicted to this emotional state…even though I know these emotions
are painful for me.
Here’s to building new peptides and receptacles!! And Im guessing service builds amazing, new
neuropeptides too!!
Next there is loyalty in marriage.
Loyalty means to be faithful and true. It means fidelity in all we do. A marriage before God calls us to be both
loyal and true. The world would have us
not worry about such things. Being virtuous and responsible for our
actions is not encouraged.
We should be the best we can be. To ourselves and to our
love. May I quote here: “ We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, and it’s
never to be undone. Every small stroke
of virtue or of vice leaves its never-so-little scar. The drunken Rip Van Winkle, in Jefferson’s
play, excuses himself for every fresh
misdeed by saying, ‘I won’t count this time.’ “ A
psychologist has this to say about our justifying
our actions especially those actions of least resistance, and us believing it doesn’t
really count- “You may not count it, and a kind Heaven may
not count it; but it is being counted nonetheless. Down among our nerve cells and fibers the
molecules are counting it, registering and storing it up to be used against him when
the next temptation comes. (our physical
bodies are such a wonder!!) Nothing we ever do is, in strict scientific
literalness, wiped out. Of course, this
has its good side as well as its bad one.
As we come permanent drunkards-as in Rip's case, by so many separate drinks,(acts
of omission in case of marriage) we become saints(do-gooders)
in the moral sphere, and authorities and experts in the practical and
scientific spheres, by so many separate acts and hours of work (good deeds). Let no youth have any anxiety about the
upshot of his education (or marriage) whatever it may be. If he keeps faithfully busy each hour of the
day, he may safely leave the final result to itself. He can with perfect certainty count on waking
up some fine morning, to find himself one of the competent ones of his
generation, in whatever pursuit he may have singled out. ( a good marriage) Silently, between all the details of his
business (marriage) the power of judging in all that class of matter will have
built itself up within him a possession
that will never pass away. Young people
should know this truth in advance. The ignorance of it has probably engendered
more discouragement and faint-heartedness in youth embarking on arduous endeavors
than all other causes put together. (Psychology
William James Henry Holt 18920
My dumbed down version:
Marriage is work. Put in the time
and effort…lots of effort…and you will
wake up many a morning and be ever so grateful for and more in love with the one
you love. It will be worth it. It will
bring much joy and satisfaction. Send
good and positive vibes down to those very molecules that make beautiful you!! Be
loyal to thyself and to the one you love.
If your marriage was arranged…you worked at it every day!! There was no
other option!! The same applies today!!
Next helpful tip:
Continue the wooing!
Just because there’s a ring and a sealing doesn’t mean the
fun can end. Wooing should never cease. Have fun together. Keeping
dating. Remember kind words, and appreciation expressed often, and courteous acts mean so much. It is
always about the small things. Love
feeds on kindnesses and courtesy.
And you ladies
remember- Dr Laura is oh so wise when she counsels us to LOVE them, intimately,
feed them and tell them how great they
are. It is that simple!!
Next is practicing self-control.
My mother and your mother taught you that ‘if you don’t have anything good to say,
then don’t say anything at all!’ Biting
ones tongue becomes a fine art…if practiced!!
If we refrain from saying hurtful words..we gain much happiness in our
marriages.
So in the end what is it that this old lady wants you to
know?
-we overthink
-we underthink
-have faith
-we need to practice
the Golden Rule
-we are responsible for our own happiness…even in
marriage.
-when we serve…love grows….and grows…and grows.
-work at it!
-find out what your lovers Love Language is. Then shower it
upon them!!
-be true to yourself
-remember, God is there to help
-take Hollywood and
the world out of marriage mores. Bring
God in.
-Glory in the wonder of it all!!
