Article January 16, 1984 Issue

How to make—and keep—marriage a love affair

HELEN B. CHILDS

Can marriage stay a love affair and not be shipwrecked on the shoals of disappointment? What does it take to keep a marriage afloat and not let it become another statistic in the high divorce rate? When marriage is built on the strong foundation of moral and spiritual values, it can be a treasure—one of life's richest growing experiences.

My husband and I owe our happy and lasting marriage to Christian Science, because it has given us a spiritual approach to this human institution. Way back when our love was a budding promise, we realized the importance of both the Bible, and the chapter "Marriage" in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. This chapter is an integral part of the revelation of the Science of Christ. I felt that as such, the statements about marriage in the textbook were inspired and had the authority and sanction of divine law. I saw that far from being mere arbitrary opinion or a Victorian code for behavior, these teachings give scientific law to be adhered to and obeyed for my own happiness and spiritual growth, as well as the benefit of society.

As our intentions became serious, therefore, we began by reading everything Mrs. Eddy has written about marriage and divorce from the standpoint of the morale of marriage. We wanted to grow together; to be happy in our marriage, and so provide an atmosphere of harmony and permanency for the family to come. We were careful and prayerful, knowing that after the wedding bells there would be no excuse for complaint. When confronted with either little differences or fundamental incompatibilities, we would consult the textbook to see how the revelation of Christian Science was establishing the rules and guiding us to the correct solution. We knew our lifetime companioning could be ever blessed because it had this firm spiritual basis. And it has been.

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