my marriage

When I was growing up, I often wondered about my “Soul mate”, I often thought “ I want someone that can make me happy”. Later I came to understand that love is not enough to make a marriage work. A marriage needs two people willing to commit. 
I married when I was only 20 years old with my high school sweetheart. Marriage was hard at the beginning of our relationship. My husband and I did not have a clear picture of the meaning of Marriage.
The naiveness and lack of parental supervision made us victims of substance abuse and domestic violence. I remember that I thought about divorce many times. I felt that I did not want to live with someone that did not love me or respect me.
Our relationship was on the brink of divorce when I decided to join The Latter Days Saint Church in 2008.
My husband and I began to understand the true meaning of Marriage and that if we wanted to preserve our Marriage, we would have to make changes. President Kimball explained that “Only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families amid the gathering evil around us.” I was convinced that I had to fight to preserve my family.
One of the biggest reasons for working on our Marriage was well- being of our children. There have been studies that shine a light on the effects of effective parenting. Amato concluded that the “quality of parenting is the best predictor of children’s emotional and cognitive development”. My goal as a wife and as a mother was to have love and unity and scientific research has demonstrated that children that do better if they are given the opportunity. But it was hard to begin.
We had to re-learn how to love again and appreciate the talents and qualities of each other. We had to make changes that allow us to see our full potential and the path to a life together. Our journey has not been easy, but we learned that love after abuse, and domestic violence is possible.
My husband and I believe that Marriage is sacred, that our children have the right to live in a home where parents love and respect each other. 
I sometimes wonder how many people are on the brink of divorce. I have been there. I know the pain and suffering, but I also know that there is hope, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. My husband and I have been married for 20 years, and I can say that I love him every day and for eternity.