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Sacrifice big or small !

Sacrifice big or small is necessary in marriage. I found this out very early in my marriage, as my heart found love in an international marriage with a boy from Minnesota. Marriage is already about compromise and looking out for each other.  But with different countries being thrown into the mix that’s a whole new adventure.  The beginning of our engagement  I moved to the states it was only going to be until the wedding, but I felt very strongly I needed to make the sacrifice and stay in MN while my husband finished school. Only this changed when due to death in my family back home in Sydney that sacrifice became unbearable. My husband sacrificed for me, we took our adventure abroad after only 3 years  and moved back to my home in Sydney.
Long story short we are still here, and I know it’s a sacrifice my husband has made for me and it’s a very hard one and unfortunately in an  international marriage someone is always going to have to sacrifice living near their families. Some people tell us to choose Switzerland then we aren’t living in any of our home countries, but we haven’t taken that route or extremity yet.  We try to get him back to the states with the kids to visit but flights are so expensive and really set us back financially.
However this year i felt strongly although its a financial set back or sacrifice, we really need to go visit Mn this year altogether as a family. We haven't done this as a family for about 8 years, but i realised i wanted to show my husband i was grateful and understood the sacrifice he has made for us . I needed to do whatever I could to make it happen and we did our homework, played with our budget  and found affordable flights for July.
I know this means alot to my husband, because in the past i have said no and he has gone to visit his family on his own.   Who knows what the future holds and what sacrifices will need to be made for the happiness of our little family but this is where our lot is cast for now.
            So ive mentioned a  big sacrifice in our marriage and one that has tested us continually.  But having said that after reading this weeks chapters from Gottman’s book I realise every day in marriage we are sacrificing in some way. When we take time in our day maybe on our lunch break to call our spouse just to say Hi, when we pick up take out on the way home when we know our spouse is way to tired to be in the kitchen or just sacrificing our own down time that we really want in front of the tv or with a book when we know our spouse needs to talk.
Sacrifice brings blessings, respect, strengthens love and friendship.  Its not just the big sacrifices that count in marriage , its the every day little ones that all add up , its the golden rule do unto others as you would have them do to you.  When you see your spouse put their needs aside for you it makes you want to do the same.  It also gives you reassurance that you are there for one another.
I love this quote from President HInckley

 

References : President Gordon B Hinckley
Anchorage, Alaska, regional conference, 18 June 1995

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