Week 10 - Charity Never Fails

It is particularly important that each one of us aspires and works for the dreams of life.
When I was in my teenage years I developed a strong feeling about the immortality of family love, it was a kind of dream and a desire. It was unthinkable for me that the love that I had for my parents and siblings would end with death, I had a strong conviction, without knowing yet the Plan of Salvation, that family love had more power than death. Later, in my mid 20´s, when I had the blessing of receiving my first missionary lessons, and learn about the Plan of Salvation, and the eternal potential of families, I understood that all my feelings, dreams, and desires were actually part of God´s plan and love.
Dr. Gottman explained that in marital life it is extremely important that partners share their dreams, that dreams are “hopes, aspirations, and wishes that are part of our identity and give purpose and meaning to your life” (Gottman, chapter 11), that our most profound dreams are normally developed in our childhood.
It was not then a surprise that, after I was baptized, my subsequent dream and desire was to marry someone that shared exactly the same dream concerned the divine potential of families. And, oh! How am I so grateful! Just three months after my baptism, the missionaries invited me to participate in a discussion with a new investigator. And imagine what? That young, beautiful, and bright investigator would later become my spouse and eternal companion.
Of course, we have both different family backgrounds that shaped our personality, character and our dreams and aspirations, but although these personal characteristics, we have been discovering along our almost twenty years of marriage, that the fact that we both shared the same most sacred dream and goal enables us to overcome many of life obstacles.
But, from Dr. Goddard, chapter seven readings, I learned that dream per se is not sufficient. We must work and developed the necessary skills to achieve the dreams of life, if not, it will be like the letter of the hymn:
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
…
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
(Hymn 223: Have I Done Any Good?)

Dr. Goddard explained that the most important and effective characteristic that we must developed as children of God, and as husbands and wives, is charity. “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (Moroni 7: 47) So, charity requires that we gladly “putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3: 19).
Charity help us see others as Christ sees. When we love our partners as Christ loves we accept them as they are, with their imperfections and perfections, and we can see them in their future potential of becoming queens and kings of Almighty.
                                                References
Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work : A Practical Guide From the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert. New York: Harmony.

Goddard, H. W. (2007). Drawing heaven into your marriage : powerful principles with eternal results. Cedar Hills, UT : JoymapPub., c2009.

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