Chastity.
What a lesson. My dear friend who is a convert and who is really great about being REAL gave the lesson in Gospel Essentials today. It was tender and raw and heartbreaking all stuffed into 1 hour! I felt sad. I felt like a victim. I felt angry at Mr. Wonderful for breaking the covenants that would qualify not only him but our entire family for the blessings and gifts that come from our Heavenly Father when all members of a family are living the Law of Chastity.
The promises are beautiful.
Did you know that the topic "Chastity" can be found in the Gospel Principles manual under the topic "family salvation"? Neither did I. Vanessa Moodie says, "A realization hit me like a burst of light! This law was designed specifically to protect not just individuals but also the most basic and important unit of heaven and earth… the family. I realized that this law will do more than any other commandment in protecting and strengthening the family. What a blessing! What a glorious blessing!" You can find the full talk "The Blessing of Chastity" here.
Yes, what a blessing. However, what a sad realization when I know that Mr. Wonderful hasn't and isn't completely keeping the law of chastity. So, does this mean that because he falls short on this very serious commandment my entire family suffers?
I don't like this thought.
I am confused. If the only person I can control is me. If the only person I can change is me. If the only person I can save is me then why can someone else's action and choices take certain promises and blessings away from me and my children? Am I still promised these blessings but without my husband on board, I'm just don't get the fulness of these blessings?
I don't like this thought.
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| Please Mr. Wonderful… choose the right thing. For you. For me. For our beautiful family. |
I hope your loved ones make the right choices, regardless, we can be happy and whole and feel complete even if they don't. I am not speaking from experience, because I'm not there… not yet, but I do believe this is possible.
I like this thought.
Alice
If it isn't our problem, why does it do so much damage to our lives?
ReplyDeleteThe more I learn about marriage and the marriage covenant, the more sure I am that the depressing truth you described here is true. Really. We decided to be one with our spouses, which means letting their ups and downs into our lives. And I truly believe there is a point that you max out your own healing without them.
That being said, YOUR salvation is individual. And I cannot imagine a loving savior or heavenly father looking at you and saying "You did all I asked, but that guy you married.....well.....we just can't let you in".