Love Levels

I enjoyed the section from Goddard's book entitled  Heavenly "Sacrifice" and "Buying a Heavenly Home". I've been a real estate agent for 16 years, and I know what kind of preparation and price is paid to buy a home.  The parties involved in the purchase have to plan, prepare and commit to a long-term contract of home ownership, with a promise to repay a loan. It is not easy, and the buyers must be willing to sacrifice time and money to upkeep their commitment.

There has only been one great and true sacrifice on earth, and that has been the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  We may believe we sacrifice, however, there is always a blessing that comes with it.  Therefore, we never truly "sacrifice".  The Lord gives us experiences, wisdom, strength, insight, courage and further knowledge from the sacrifices we make.  Goddard recounts John Widstoe's words in his book, "Did you not leave a handsome property in Ohio, Missiouri, and Illinois?" Yes. "And have you not suffered through that?" No, I have been growing better and better all the time, and so have this people." The concept of buying into a Heavenly Home made me appreciate how we can grow better and better in our relationship by reflecting how we can make our spouse's life happier each day, in turn making ourselves more happy. 

 

For many years, I have had an analogy of "love levels" in my mind.  When we first marry, we are so excited to start a new chapter in life.  I call this a "young, inexperienced love level" because of the adventure and newness of a married relationship.  Then, when children come and bills pile up and responsibilities seem overwhelming, there is a "partnership love".  If we are not partners in raising a family, the family will suffer.  After the children are gone, it opens an entirely new phase of rekindling and getting to know each other again, which I refer to as "companionship love". Then the beautiful level of "Christ-like love" evolves.  Elder Eyring's video about his father taking care of his mother during her illness reminds me of pure Christ-like love.  This is a time where we love each other unconditionally, accepting each other the way we are, feeling a love so deep that we only care about the other person's comfort and happiness.  This kind of love comes from service and sacrifice.  I believe this is the reward and the blessing that comes from a lifetime of trials, experiences, living and loving.  Sadly, too many people are not rewarded with the Christ-like love because they give up at the partnership or companionship level when things are not going their way.