Thank you Scott. Such timing! Today marks 32 years of marriage to the love of my life. Yes there have been bumps in the road. But looking back on our journey our eyes have been focused on the beautiful landscape that we have traveled together. And looking forward, our sight looks to the horizon and sunrise of a beautiful new day. Thanks again

Thank you so much for this beautiful message. Today is our anniversary. Mel and I have been married for 32 years! He called me from work so we could read this article together. We commented and cried as the memories refilled our hearts and minds. Thank you, Mel for our eventful life together, our children, our ups and downs,and our exciting, long and eternal future still to come!

So true and this article is definitely needed in today's society. We expect our spouses to make everything right and our lives to be perfect.Marriage is HARD work but definitely worth it!What a blessing it is to find and work together with your eternal companion.

This article is so right for our times right now. Too many adults are buying into the focus on self and ending up alone later wishing for a marriage partner.

It is quite ok to "settle" (for someone who is stable, and a good citizen) and set aside the fantasy of perpetual romantic love. Instead, view love as a verb or an action - something you "do" rather than something you need to always "feel".

By loving(action) my wife and my children, the return of love from them, so far, has been perpetual.

Tell that to my now ex-girlfriend who just dumped me because she's developing her "career" as a blogger/internet marketer.

Thank you, but those can be very valid reasons for not getting married right away. It just happens to be coming out more in this generation. Do you have any idea how many people the generation infront of me tell me they wish they had done more when they were young? That they could have explored their interests and who they were before stepping into something that serious? This new generation, mine, simply is taking the step of what many others have not, and I find it quite healthy. Besides, if we do not have joy in our life, in what we do, in who we are...that is not life.

I feel for your wife. Does she know you feel you had to "settle" for her?

now I'm excited! I'll just head over to the local convenience store and pick me out a husband! I'm sure it will work out and we'll be deliriously happy for all time and eternity!!!

Great article, but 25 years too late for many of us in the mission field. My 19th wedding anniversary is tomorrow. I was always wanting to get married before my wedding age 32; and I have paid the price for not being married and starting a family in my 20's. Comments: You can only marry someone who is available to be married. Honesty with oneself, self-sufficiency, common values & goals I would say are "musts" to "settle" for. Without honesty there is no reality.

This article really made my day today and made me stop to appreciate my marriage. No, things have not gone exactly as we had planned in the past 11 years, but we are happy. Thank you, Mr. Card, for writing such a beautiful piece.

A very well written article.

Thank you, Scott. That was beautiful. It's what I still hope for.

Brother Card: Wow! Another great article. I don't take this article to mean we should settle for whatever man/woman who comes along. We should have standards, but at the same time not expect to find someone superior to what we are. Personally, I am amazed and grateful that my wife "settled" for me.

Truly gifted and inspired authors are able to take the sum total of our inspired thoughts, the ones we are unable to verbalize let alone string together in a coherent and full commentary on any subject, and lays them out for us to read, to comprehend and connect with. Thank you Br. Card. the truth is in the words you wrote and I felt the familiarity of them...and am again reminded of how grateful I am for a good and true partner...a patient one too.

I recently started reading "Sarah" which you authored and I am amazed at the great understanding you have of relationships and women, in particular.

I was so impressed with this article on marriage, that I carried it to the five sisters I visit teach, and want to share it with my family. I was so glad to get a printable version of it-and then found the entire article wasn't even printed!

Thank you so much for your great insight. One of my daughters recently got divorced, and how I wish she could have understood this message. Maybe it won't be too late if she plans to remarry.

Personally I have been divorced once and widowed 3 times, and this is my fifth marriage, and I totally agree that any two good people can have a good marriage if willing to pay the cost! Thanks again,
Joan Bagley