giving and getting...

"Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren: deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again...."For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again,..."

This is an eternal law.  It does NOT say that what you are getting in this life, you will get more of in the next life.  It says, that what you send out or do in this life, you will have it returned to you.

I love this because it gives me ownership.  I am responsible for what I send out, not what is given to me.  Others will dish out what they will dish out...I am not responsible for that.  I am responsible for what I do.

Applying this to marriage and family:

Give your very best because that is what you'll get back and have eternally.

It is likely that when we do this, we will help others to want to be better.

We will have this reward eternally, that is a guarantee from the Lord.  This does NOT guarantee that once we start sending out goodness and mercy, that we will instantly start getting it back.  We are here to be tested for our faith and endurance.  Somedays and times, it feels long and hard and not worth it.  Well, we aren't in it for today.  We are in it for eternity.

We don't have to and shouldn't, go at it alone.  We will surely fail if we do.  We were provided with a Savior because we would absolutely need one.

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

It surely will be revealed.  We will see how He helps us if we are looking.  Those glimpses into His hand in our lives are the tender mercies that help us to endure.  Watch for His help, pray to see it.  Cheerfully, do all that you can do and then know He will make up the difference.  That is how He works.