Love Is All You Need by Liz Pitcavage

When I was a newly wed I felt inspired to ask my grandpa what  his secret was to his long lasting marriage.  My grandparents had been married for almost 60 years at that time,  had 6 children and 36 grandchildren with a new generation of great-grandchildren on the way.

As a newly-wed I could not imagine being in his shoes 60 years down the road.  I felt desperate for his advice.

I said "Grandpa, you and grandma have been married for so long, what's the secret?" He said "I just love her! Isn't that enough?"

His tone implied that my question was a little ridiculous, what other answer could there be? I laughed and said that yes, it was enough. I didn't know that would be our last conversation. He died shortly thereafter of liver failure.

For a long time after that conversation I thought his answer to my question was just a funny, sweet anecdote. Only now do I realize that it was the best answer he could have possibly given me.  

The secret, according to my grandpa, to a happy marriage is to just love your spouse.  Shower your spouse with love, make it your priority. The Family Proclamation says: "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children."

Not only is it a good idea from my grandpa, it is our solemn responsibility put forth through modern revelation. At the end of the day when my husband is exhausted and throws his socks on the floor or he had a bad day at work, that is my time to shower him with love. The way you show love or the way your spouse needs to be loved is personal.  Only you know the best way to love your spouse. I just hope I can follow in the footsteps of my grandparents and fulfill my solemn responsibility.   The most important thing we can do for our spouse is to love them.

Liz Pitcavage is a wife and mother of two young children, living in Pennsylvania.  She was raised on the East Coast, but was born in Idaho and can cook a mean potato...when she wants to!  Liz loves to knit, play piano, read, and write...and she longs for the ocean on most days.  Liz has shared the gift of music with children through music and piano lessons, and she blesses many with her knitted creations.  I am blessed to know Liz through the church, here in Central Pa.  Thanks for this post, Liz!