Relationships that Last for Decades
In March I lost my uncle, and when I attended his funeral I was talking to my aunt. I was telling her that I was in awe of the fact that they had been married for 70 years, and she told me of how they met on a blind date. After this he had taken her to meet his mother, and eventually they were married. While he was away during the war she stayed with his mother. It was interesting talking with her and to learn things I had not known in the past.
A large percentage of marriages don't last like this anymore. It is not often you hear of couples who are together for this number of years and it's a shame. I think that people are not willing to work at a relationship as they did in the past. I am not naïve enough to believe they never had their problems over the years. You cannot live with someone day in and out for year after year, and agree on things or get along all the time. Everyone has their share of struggles both emotionally and financially, and how you deal with these will determine if you can make it through.
Many younger people today seem to go into relationships with the attitude if it doesn't work out they will just leave. Sort of the my way or the highway kind of attitude. In many ways I don't blame them, as they were raised to believe that whatever they want they should have. Parents have given them too much without teaching them that some things in life take hard work to get what you want, or where you want to be.
Lasting relationships take dedication and perseverance. You need to be wise enough to know you can't have things your way all the time. You have to compromise and give up something you may want to do in order to do things your partner enjoys doing. You both will say things that hurt at times, and you need to have a big enough heart to forgive, or be humble enough to apologize. Kinds words need to be said every day, and you always need to remember the qualities that drew you together to begin with. There is no room for ego in a good relationship, and your words should be put through a filter before they leave your mouth. Most of all you need to have patience.
After 70 years of marriage, about 3 months after my uncle was gone, I received a call that my aunt had passed away. In some ways I was not surprised, as I knew when he was gone she would be lost. I take comfort in the fact that they are once again together.
My hope is that people will start to see the value in lifelong relationships once again. That they will teach their children that the reward is well worth the hard work it takes to get there.
A large percentage of marriages don't last like this anymore. It is not often you hear of couples who are together for this number of years and it's a shame. I think that people are not willing to work at a relationship as they did in the past. I am not naïve enough to believe they never had their problems over the years. You cannot live with someone day in and out for year after year, and agree on things or get along all the time. Everyone has their share of struggles both emotionally and financially, and how you deal with these will determine if you can make it through.
Many younger people today seem to go into relationships with the attitude if it doesn't work out they will just leave. Sort of the my way or the highway kind of attitude. In many ways I don't blame them, as they were raised to believe that whatever they want they should have. Parents have given them too much without teaching them that some things in life take hard work to get what you want, or where you want to be.
Lasting relationships take dedication and perseverance. You need to be wise enough to know you can't have things your way all the time. You have to compromise and give up something you may want to do in order to do things your partner enjoys doing. You both will say things that hurt at times, and you need to have a big enough heart to forgive, or be humble enough to apologize. Kinds words need to be said every day, and you always need to remember the qualities that drew you together to begin with. There is no room for ego in a good relationship, and your words should be put through a filter before they leave your mouth. Most of all you need to have patience.
After 70 years of marriage, about 3 months after my uncle was gone, I received a call that my aunt had passed away. In some ways I was not surprised, as I knew when he was gone she would be lost. I take comfort in the fact that they are once again together.
My hope is that people will start to see the value in lifelong relationships once again. That they will teach their children that the reward is well worth the hard work it takes to get there.
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