I do

I often wonder how some marriages stay together and others fall apart. Granted they say people change over years and due to circumstances, however everyone and everything changes on a daily basis. Some people chose to grow together and some apart. The key to staying together- compromise- loving that other person more than yourself, giving unselfishly, making sacrifices and building that other person up and showing your support, understanding that you cannot change a person unless they want to change, committing yourself and not giving up- (I am not talking about abusive relationships or extremely negative circumstances) just your average 2 people who fall in love and together grow and prosper with life occurrences that most people go through. I am not one to judge others without being in their shoes, but I do know from what I have seen over the years and getting older that some people give up too easily, because it is easier than trying.
Today on the news they showed a couple that have been married for 80 years who won the 2013 Worldwide Marriage Encounter award (a Christian marriage enrichment group based in San Bernardino, Calif., that organizes a search each year to promote the virtues of lasting marriages and inspire young couples.) Growing up my parents were a part of this Marriage Encounter group where they traveled around and gave enrichment weekends to help other married couples enrich and enhance their relationships and marriage by teaching them how to most effectively communicate with one another. Not only did I see changes in my parent's communication while growing up, it changed the dynamic of my family life. I was young when my dad passed away, but I still remember learning some of the things that they did to make each other feel special and keep the communication between them open and healthy.
Many people now get  married a lot later than 17 like this couple did, so if we live until 97 I will not beat this 80 year mark, however we can take it as an example of how life can bring us blessings if we follow some simple advice.
Before their 80th wedding anniversary in November, John and Ann Betar told ABC News that they considered themselves "blessed."

"We are very fortunate. It can be repeated and repeated," Ann, 97, said at the time. "It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing."

Though the couple is hesitant to give out marriage advice, their secret to so many happy years together is simple: compromise and don't hold a grudge.

Congrats to the Betars who will be receiving their award at their granddaughter's home this Saturday! May they be an example to all of us as we move forward.