Marriage and the Parting of the Red Sea
By H. Wallace Goddard

Most Marriages Are Repairable

Thank you. I am a paralegal and specialize in personal injury and domestic relations/family law. I read Brother Goddard's article with great interest. I agree wholeheartedly with him. Idare say that 90 to 95 percent of the divorces Isee come through our office are repairable.One or both of the parties have quit. They have moved on to find themselves ormake themselves happy. Those twoterms do not exist outside of their marriage. Nine times out of 10 I seem them immediately, if not sooner, enter another relationship. No self analysis, no down time, no long-suffering or reflection ever goes on in their own life. They move on to another relationship with the same faults they ended the last marriage with. I cringe when I hear individuals and well-meaning friendsrefer to a marriage as the "firstmarriage" as if all individuals have two, three or four marriages. These types of statementsseem to always be followed by a giggle.I've never seen any humor in the statement.

Another extremely common attitude is that if things (meaning issues of the marriage) don't work out, then we just dump the marriage, like the marriage is dirty water or old shoes. Individuals in general are all too willing to toss out the bad. Individuals never learn the good that comes from working out problems together because they bail out too soon. It often reminds me of getting rid of a whole block of cheese because there is a bad spot on it. Think of all the cheese that is wasted. The same is true with marriages. If it is ended because of a "bad spot," look how much of the marriage was wasted.

I am sickened to see so many of my fellow brothers and sisters in the church following the poor example of the world.I see how important it is for each one of us to realize it's not all about "me." Marriage is an "us." The "us" is each partner and our Heavenly Father. Thank you again for including this timely and all important article.

-Darlynn S. Hanna
Salem, Oregon

Article Rings True

Wally hits the nail on the head every single time. “Marriage and the Parting of the Red Sea” rings so true yet again. Seriously great insights.

-Susan Gray

I Need My Savior and My Heavenly Father

This article left me sobbing with tears of joy—feeling much like the woman he spoke of in his article—having hope for the first time in years. I have been experiencing a journey of increased hope in the last several months.

My husband and I had marriage counseling two years ago, knowing we wanted our marriage to be eternal, but finding we lacked greatly in the communication skills we needed to strengthen our marriage. The world around us said, "Oh, marriage counseling? That's too bad," as if that were the beginning of the end. On the contrary, we wanted our marriage to last, so we sought out all the tools we could to shore it up.

That helped. Our next step was getting me some help. I have suffered from depression since my teen years and seem to get worse with age. I finally sought medication and now feel that the doors have been opened to a very dark room I resided in for years. The sun feels warm and inviting and I want to be in it in a way I haven't wanted to in decades.

Next, I knew my husband needed some help, and here's where Brother Goddard's article took hold. That 69 percent of things you find irritating never changing. He's not mine to "fix" or "help.” He's mine to love, to support and to sustain. I am learning to have faith, to do the very best I can with me, to let the Lord change me, fix me, and take me across the chasm. He is there for my husband. I know my husband will choose to never let go of His hand, either.

When Brother Goddard wrote about what Father would say to the woman, that's when I lost it, in such a good way. I'm holding on. I know I am weak and I can't do this alone. I can't do anything alone. I need my Savior and I need my Heavenly Father. And I know they are there.

I am thankful to Brother Goddard for putting all those pieces together in a moving, beautiful article.

-Anonymous

Profound Insight That Applies To All Aspects Of Life

A profound insight. It could be easily edited, not just for marriage, but for any addiction or any problem—anything where our own personal efforts are not enough. Thanks.

-Bill Hall
Batavia, Illinois

Author Has Gift of Insight And Writing

Wally, you are amazing. You have a real gift—a gift of insight and a gift of writing. Whatever Meridian pays you, it isn’t enough.

-Herm Olsen
Logan, Utah

Crummy Crash Course
By Mariah Proctor

We Can Always See The Hand Of The Lord

Great article. I love how life gives us opportunity to see the hand of the Lord in every care we have.

-Cindy Hunt

A Father Indeed

Hoping To Be As Good As My Dad

What a great video. It reminded of my dad who has been gone over six years now. He took us fishing and on family trips and taught us how to work by example, by allowing us to work beside him. It is such a great blessing to be a father and now a grandfather. I only hope I can be as good at it as my dad was and as Bill was in this video. I appreciate all of the wonderful things you make available through your site. Thanks again.

-Roy Olsen Cardston, Alberta, Canada

Going Green without Losing Your Mind: Better Stewardship of Your Own Backyard
By Darla R. Gaylor

Simple Ways To Go Green

This article interested me because I am always looking for painless ways to go a little greener. I'm too lazy to be a fanatic about anything. Here is a very simple idea from my daughter-in-law that has saved us a lot on our electric bill, so it must be good for the environment: Don't turn on any lights during the daylight hours. Read and work near a window. When nightfall has come, then everyone needs to do their activities in one common room so that minimal lighting is needed. It’s a little harder to get this habit than you might think because everyone always wants their own private space for reading or journal writing. We have learned to use the bathroom during the night with only the nightlight. My daughter-in-law actually shut off the power to everything but the kitchen appliances for a couple of weeks to get everyone trained. If we needed power for anything, we had to use the ground fault outlets in the kitchen or bathrooms. It was painful, but effective. It was surprising, but it lowered our electric bill over $30 per month.

Another thing we have begun doing is using the public library several evenings per week. Because they have lots of books and lots of computers in one large area, everyone in the family can make use of the light and computers at the same time there. If five of us need to use the computer, and we are each on for one hour, that saves five hours of time on the computer at home, which means only lighting one space for one hour, while getting everyone's needs met. If not everyone needs the computer, they can still go along and use the same light for homework, reading or socializing, while the lights at home stay off. It also encourages us to read more and to check out books rather than buy them. It’s a wonderful family activity as well. We also check out audio books and listen to them as a family during drive time. We discuss the books we listen to and choose the next one before we are done with the first.
I would imagine that many of your readers have other simple ideas they could share with us to help each other find workable little solutions to our mutual need to care for our earthly home. Maybe an ongoing blog spot could encourage sharing. Thanks.

-Lin Hamill

Tips To Be Environmentally Friendly

Loved the ideas. Here are a couple more:

Use leaves from your trees as future compost for your garden or at least bag them for your local community compost. I think of my leaves as a gift from God to help my garden grow.

Use cloth towels for clean up instead of paper towels.

Combine trips and plan ahead. UPS saves gas by planning their route for each driver so as to make as many right turns as possible to save gas and time. When these drivers are not at work, they find themselves doing the same when they run errands or go out later. Waiting at lights takes time and gas. Ask your city to put traffic lights on sensors so cars don't have to sit and idle when no cross traffic is coming. Further, if you are in line for gas, at the bank, etc., cut off your engine while you wait.

-Mary McLerran

Rethinking the Wonders of My World
By Mariah Proctor

Mariah’s Travels Enjoyable To Read About

I have enjoyed reading of Mariah’s travels this summer. This is such a special article—many times I felt I was there with her even though I have not traveled out of the U.S. Seeing the pictures of the little boys playing with guns brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful culture, people and area of the world. Thank you for sharing it with us.

-Tracy England Centralia, Missouri

An Unexpected Life In An Unexpected Place
By Steve Orton

I Also Spent Time In China

Once again I have enjoyed an article you have written, this time on the young South African woman and her work with the Chinese orphanage.

It was of special interest to me because from the summer of 1991 through early fall of 1993, I participated in the same program in which you and Elva are currently participating. I spent the first year in Lanzhou in Gansu province and the second year in Beijing at the Institute of International Relations located out by the Summer Palace. Last year we went back to China for three weeks and spent several days in Xian. I wish I had known you were there, if you were at that time.

It is hard for me to realize or accept that over 40 years have passed since we first met at Wilford Hall USAF Hospital. So much has happened and so much has changed during those years.

Thank you for taking the time to write this article, and please give my regards to Elva.

-Jim Moss

Caring For First Responders
By Carolyn Nicolaysen

Hospitals Prepared For Disasters, Pandemics

As a registered nurse working in a large hospital system, I want to assure Sister Nicolaysen, as well as others, that all hospitals are required to have PPE (personal protective equipment) as well as food, paper products, housing arrangements, etc., to provide for those working in potentially hazardous environments.

In our hospital, part of our orientation involves being measured for an N95 mask; at which time a sticker with the size goes on the back of our ID badge. Each year, during our required physical (you don't get your raise if you don't comply), we are re-measured and new information is gathered.This also includes a PPD and other tests to insure compliance with hospital standards for infection control.

JCAHO, the hospital accreditation committee, requires all health facilities to have periodic emergency drills that cover trauma, pandemic illness and natural disasters. Failure to have these drills can result in the loss of “accreditation.”

I think Sister Nicolaysen's suggestions and points are well meant, but seem to infer that employers and particular healthcare providers have not already thought about or implemented the areas mentioned. I can assure you that all have done so. The points are great for those who need to come up with a plan for home or an area that falls outside of the healthcare community. I thank you for that.

- Sherry Terry