“Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon; it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding rooms for things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.”
(HT: Catholic Marie on Pinterest)
4 Comments
I always, always admired Paul Newman and his wife, Joanne. They were the ultimate Hollywood couple precisely because they shunned Hollywood. Thanks for sharing this letter. I had read it before but it was wonderful to read it again. :)
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*Sob!*Sigh!*Swoon!*
Is it possible to not be taken in by these two?? Just might have to print this out for my mirror. And my nieces and nephews. And maybe even strangers! Couldn’t have been always easy to live up to the standards set forth in the letter, but what a beautiful target to aim for!
Thanks for sharing, Hallie!
I didn’t think I could love Paul Newman any more…but I was wrong!
And how great do they look in their wedding photo?!
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Alas, Joanne was not the first Mrs. Newman. That unlucky lady got dumped for Joanne’s sake.