This is one of the best songs that teaches a great Millennial principle and deals with Agency:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeIGjYFPG4o&list=RDYeIGjYFPG4o&start_radio=1
And this follows on to the sentiment of the last post on how we treat our women in this life. If we do not garner their affection, but diminish in our glory and dominion/power in our Priesthood, they will be given to another that can take them the distance.
I have seen too many men who are controlling/possessive of their women and who, in the extreme cases, will end up doing a murder/suicide ("if I can't have you, then no one will" mentality). Women are designed to cleave to their men (the release of hormones during intimacy and in general) unless their men are mean-spirited and controlling which will have the exact opposite effect. I have seen women in relationships who are just simply enduring with an abusive partner. The noble "protect and provide" instinct run amok. A woman needs to know that she is cherished and wanted, while knowing she has full ability to stretch herself and reach her full potential.
I have seen some women abandon their men with seeming little provocation other than they were dissatisfied with their lot (man not making enough money, not a good lover, etc). Always seems to be around the time the child bearing years come to a close and the beauty of the woman begins to dissipate and she knows her social leverage is going to be depleted going forward. The man sometimes can be prone to leave his woman around the time of menopause because he values fertility (if he still desires more children). The 40's are a VERY interesting time period for both sexes. Part of the designed test, I am sure.
And how we are tested in this life. satan knows our weaknesses from the Pre-mortal State. If we pass the chastity tests of this life in particular (as we learn in the temple), we will have our reward in the next life, as we will be imbued with the ability to have increase, worlds without end. Those who abuse the procreative power and who refuse to repent, will have none of this power given to them. If they are bankrupt in character, why would you give them more power and ability to abuse that power? It is illogical. It is not mean or mean-spirited. It simply preserves an eternal order. This is the spirit of Conservatism. Conserve/maintain or preserve something precious for the next generation to enjoy.....
Perhaps since this is the time to prepare to meet God, and since this is the time to treat your spouse so that they desire to be with you in the eternities...whatever that is really like, for we have not been given many specifics. ....the focus should not be in the concept of "moving up" or "acquiring more." If this is the end goal, than we immediately seek that which King David sought or become an emotional Jezebel.
ReplyDeleteIf we are fixated only on that, and not in why we might not be cherished or why we do not cherish, we are squandering our probation.
"What could I be doing or becoming, that contributes to not being cherished how I once was? "
"Was I ever cherished really?"
"Would I cherish myself if I had to deal with....?"
Is asking these questions, just part of an emotionally "beaten wife syndrome?". "If I just do this, maybe he will cherish me, if I just try harder, if I just become better? If, if , if..."
So with the man, does he cherish?And if he doesn't experience those feelings of cherishing his wife, does he contemplate how he has changed or become and not just how she has changed or become less in his eyes?
What can he do more do plant or nurture those seeds that lead one to cherish another?
Does a a preoccupation with admiring the virtues of other women (and not seeing these women's flaws and daily mistakes), lead him to put down his wife in his mind and raise these women in his mind? Same with a woman.
Do the requirements or interests or pursuits and projects of one spouse keep the other spouse so occupied, that that spouse has not the time or the energy to reach their own potential and talents that they had, that were given them?
Do the disease and ailments or sickness and illness of one spouse wear another spouse down physically and emotionally? How do you nurture feelings of cherish and actually have them instead of fake them?
Can sometimes only the atonement of Jesus Christ save a relationship?
If we fantasize away about other relationships does this help us get through a rough patch or does it lead to the end of relationship for good? If we fantasize about " moving up" or "having more or many" is this destructive or is it comforting?
Which is better, to fantasize about how we can "move up" or "have more" or to fantasize about how we can cherish more during "this life is the time?"
Is this "lack of cherishing or being cherished" anything that I can change or no matter how many times I try, will my efforts to change or try to become not be good enough?
Can Christ help my efforts to be enough with my desire and effort?
Now I see why God shows us little of His life...eternal life. We fixate on the prize on not on obtaining it and in the process, thus lose it.