When we listen to stories that talk about happily ever after, it can make us dream about having such a magical event in our own lives. We want the perfect prince to come and wake us up with a magical kiss that will break the curse, the curse of loneliness. And the prince has the same dreams, to find a sleepy beautiful princess and with his magical kiss wake her up and form the most perfect union.

All of that sounds very magical and romantic!! But what we don’t see is what follows after the kiss, about how things work in real life. Our beloved Apostle President Dieter F. Uchtdorf during a CES devotional titled “The Reflection in the Water” shares a powerful story that will help us see ourselves and our companion in a different prefect way:

“There’s an old story about a young women on an archaeological excavation who discovers an ancient-looking lamp. When she rubs it, a genie appears, offering her one wish. She thinks for a moment and asks for world peace, that people would love each other and live in harmony forever. The genie contemplates her request, and finally says, what you’re asking for is possible. The division among the peoples of the world is too deep and has existed for way too long. Please ask for something else, anything but that.
So the young lady thinks again, and says, somewhere out there is the one person I was meant to be with. I want to find him, someone who is handsome, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor. Someone who will help around the house, loves kids, doesn’t watch sports all the time. Has a great job, thinks first about my happiness, someone who will go shopping with me, and someone who can get along with my family.
The genie considers her request for a moment, sighs deeply, and then replies, let me see what I can do about world peace.” 

We all tend to believe that there is just one true and perfect companion for us, and if we don’t find “the One”, then we won’t be happy. For that reason,  President Uchtdorf continues to explain the true meaning of perfection:

“Since you won’t to find perfection in your partner, and your partner won’t find it in you, your only chance at perfection is in creating perfection together. That is the secret. There are those who do not marry because they feel a lack of magic in relationships. By magic, I assume they mean sparks of attraction. Falling in love is a wonderful feeling, and I would never counsel you to marry someone you don’t love.
Nevertheless, and here’s another thing that is sometimes hard to accept, that magic sparkle needs continued polishing. When the magic endures in a relationship, it’s because the couple made it happen, not because it mystically appeared due to some cosmic force.” 

Lets create perfection in our marriages! Lets make a commitment right now to keep “the magic sparkle” alive by polishing it every day! Because the only way to a “Happily Ever After” ending, is when two imperfect beings, who are perfectly in love with each other, work in harmony as one to make it happen!!

Hurray for True Love!!