Marriage – a momentous investment – Sunday, February 16, 1958
Marriage is surely among life’s most momentous investments, if not the most momentous investment—the investment of ourselves and all that we are, and of all the future, and the future of our families. And since marriage is so momentous a matter, we would plead this day for a greater attention to it—for more earnest consideration before the making of a marriage, and for more understanding of those we love and live with after a marriage is made.
No one perhaps can say with absolute certainty what will make an enduring marriage, always and unerringly; but there are some indispensable elements that shouldn’t be left out of the making of any marriage, and some foremost among them are trust and confidence, and patience and faith, and kindness and encouragement, and common values and convictions, and an understanding heart. And as to love, lest some should suppose that it has been left out, let it be said that love should always be an ingredient, but love likely won’t live long without these other indispensable elements.
It is a thing of great good when good people trust and understand each other: When, for example, a father away from home knows his children will be taught and cared for even as if he were there—and knows that fidelity is as certain even as if he were there.
Marriage may well be life’s most important decision, and either as to getting into or getting out of, it is never to be lightly considered. In marriage one cannot consider himself only, nor the present only, but must consider the total effect of all he does, the whole influence of all that he is, on himself and all others, and on the family, into the farthest reaches of the future.
Marriage is not a matter merely of personal and passing pleasure, but must be of enduring stability, built on character and consideration. And in this, as in all other relationships of life, there must be much of give and take, much of understanding, much of reason, and of restraint from overdoing anything. And not even in times of temper and tension, is there place for the hard ultimatum, for the “do this or else” attitude; but often surely there is need for “the soft answer that turneth away wrath,” and a little of the patience and faith and forbearance that prove so wonderfully rewarding.
And since marriage is so momentous an investment of all that means the most, again we would plead this day for more earnest consideration before the making of any marriage, and for more understanding of those we love and live with.
Among the greatest of all good gifts is good and gracious living with the love of family and friends, and the really wise will live so as not to lose it—now—or ever.
February 16, 1958
Broadcast Number 1,487