“Don’t be too quick.
You never know
what the next one will be like.”

Years ago, a wise woman told me about a time in her life when she was much younger.

As with many married couples, she and her husband found themselves going through a difficult time. They were increasingly at odds with one another. Unsure of what to do, the woman went to her mother and admitted her growing unhappiness. She was even considering divorce. Her mother replied, “Think—don’t rush. You have no idea what the next one will be like.”

With her mother’s sobering advice in her mind, the young wife went home to her husband. They remained married— happily, as it turned out—for over fifty years until his passing. She missed him every day until she too passed away.

Like that bride, we also run into situations where we might just find it easier to throw up our hands and quit. When deciding what to do, it can be helpful to remember this: “You have no idea what the next one will be like.”