Article February 17, 1968 Issue

An Enduring, Happy Marriage

MARJORIE LYTTLE BUCHANAN

As each partner's concept of man changes to reflect the ideal man of God's creation, a firm foundation for a happy marriage is realized. The fact that there is one God, one Mind, and that man is made in His image and likeness, is the basis of harmony in human relations. An unhappy marriage, like a sick body, does not represent the government of God. Mutual respect and unselfish care that reflect this one Mind are essential elements that make a marriage work.

The marriage contract signifies a union of aims as well as a union of hearts. A husband's success in the business world is not his responsibility alone. It is a wife's duty to support his business activity through her spiritual understanding. And, of course, it is a husband's duty to support his wife in her activity. There must be a ready willingness of both partners to see any belief of defeat or discouragement as a false claim of mortal mind, or material consciousness, and not the truth of being. A joyous realization that man is the perfect expression of divine Mind annuls any claim of poor providing, apathetic approach to work, monotonous activity, or any other false belief of limitation or failure.

Oil has often been used as a symbol to indicate the quality of thought that harmonizes human relations. Mrs. Eddy gives this spiritual definition of the word "oil": "Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration."^{Science and Health, p. 592;} How smoothly running a marriage can be if the partners constantly apply this spiritual concept of oil!