Love is a Choice

My Mother-in-law Gini sent us this book for Christmas.  I love books, especially self improvement books. But this book is one of a kind (at least from any other book I've read).  The cover says "Making your marriage and family stronger."  Love is a Choice By Lynn G Robbins.  Yes, it was really helpful for marriage and helpful in parenting and the best ways to discipline.  But, the main point of the book is to become more charitable yourself and your family and the world around you will change. As we do this we will really understand what love is.  Love not a feeling; it's a commitment in so many ways.

We've all heard that the only person we can change and control is ourselves.  I am a true believer of that, although, I fail at remembering this more than I'd like to admit. This book really had me take a look at myself individually. It made me think about my strengths and weaknesses and helped me see what and why I need to change.  But it doesn't stop there.  He literally explains a hundred Christlike attributes we can incorporate in our lifetime.  Obviously, we can only work on one or two at a time but as we work and learn line upon line, here a little; there a little we will become more Christlike.  Christ was the perfect example of love and furthermore charity.

Of course increasing in love and charity will take a lifetime and beyond.  But, I am really grateful for the help Elder Robbins gives and all the countless hours he has put into organizing truth from scripture into this book so that I can become the person I need and want to become and make a plan on how to do it.

I took a pic of the table of contents, the back cover, and about the author.

I just have to add that a few years ago I heard a talk at conference on parenting and disciplining.  I loved it so much that I listened to it countless times and even bought a small notebook just to I put my favorite quotes from the talk in.  Then the plan was to keep track of how I was doing.  I do have to mention I failed miserably at the keeping track part but everything else really stuck for a long time.

As I read this book I felt like I was reading something I had already read and heard.  I was a bit confused at first and then realized it was an old conference talk.  I googled Elder Robbins name and part of a quote I remembered.  It came up the the general conference address back from 2011 that I loved so much but had forgotten about.  How funny.  I'm so happy to be reminded of the way I trully believe is the best form of discipline.  Now I have even more insights from him and at a time when when we really need it.  Here's a link to the talk.  It's basacally a chapter from his book.  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/what-manner-of-men-and-women-ought-ye-to-be?lang=eng