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How
to
Have a Happy Marriage
hold a job for long? Was it a meddling mother-in-law? Or
Joan insisting on a job outside the home? Maybe they just
didn't get on well together.
No sane person would deny that any one or all these
things may have contributed. But the one root cause goes a
lot deeper than any of these things.
Men and women saddled with bad marriages have one
point in common. They have ignored some very good advice.
That advice comes in just five little words. "Love your
neighbor as yourself."
But who is your neighbor? Isn't he or she the person next
door? Co-workers on the job? Church brethren? Club mem–
bers? Yes, all of these people and, in a broader sense, all of
humanity are our neighbors. But too often we forget the
identity of our
number one neighbor.
You've heard the old cliche, "Charity begins at home."
Cliches are cliches simply because they're usually true. Our
number one neighbor in a unique sense is our spouse-hus–
band or wife.
The average person usually behaves in a courteous and
civil manner towards friends and neighbors.
If
we are not
awfully careful, our spouse can be the only exception to the
accepted rules of behavior.
A business client telephones a city executive on the job.
The secretary buzzes his office and informs him that an
important client is on the phone. No matter how rough he
feels at the moment, he takes a deep breath, forces a smile
and says, "Hello, how are you?" in a pleasant voice in an
endeavor to show both interest and concern.
Another call comes through a few minutes later. "It's
your wife," the secretary announces. "Oh, her again,'' he
mutters under his breath. "Okay, I'll take it this time," comes
the reluctant answer. His wife does get through, but is uncer–
emoniously greeted with "What is it this time?"-whether or
not the comment may be justified.
This man forgot the identity of his number one neighbor.
He behaves in a very courteous manner toward his clients
and the big boss. He may even treat his employees with
deference and decorum. But his wife? That's another matter
altogether. The probable long-term result of such prolonged