DIVINE NATURE

Be partakers of the divine nature....Giving all diligence,

add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;

and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness;

and to brotherly kindness charity (2 Peter 1:4-7).

I love this scripture!  When I think about my marriage and the relationship with my husband I think upon this scripture and wonder if I behave appropriately towards him.  I use this scripture to check myself.  I also think about my responsibilities as a mother and evaluate my interaction with my children against this scripture.

These are attributes that the Savior exemplified during his life here on earth.  They were taught by his actions and deeds.  These are also attributes of our Heavenly Father.  These are divine attributes that we should strive to develop and then work towards perfecting them.

For the past couple weeks I have made a special effort to strengthen my relationship with my husband by showing my love for him through my actions.  It takes great effort to refrain from judging, criticizing or speaking unkindly when you are out of practice.  It takes an equal amount of effort to watch for positive qualities.  Writing notes of encouragement (or love notes); praying for my husband, finding ways to be helpful and verbally expressing my love have helped me see him for who he is.  A son of God who is of worth.

Another scripture that reminds me of how I should behave is found in Colssians 3:12-17

Put on therefore,as the elect of God, holy and

beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,

humbleness of mind, meekness,

longsuffering; Forbearing one another, if

any man have a quarrel against any, even as

Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above

all these things put on charity, which is the

bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are

called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let

the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all

wisdom; teaching and admonishing one

another in psalms and hymns and spiritual

songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the

Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving

thanks to God and the Father by him.