The great Rav the Vilna Gaon stated that the main reason we came into this world is to do tikkun hamiddot (fix our bad character traits). It is usually the people closest to us (husband, kids, in-laws) that push our buttons in such a way as to make us work on those character traits (compassion, patience, tolerance). Therefore, we should not be surprised or dismayed when we hit bumps in the road in our marriage, as it is through overcoming those challenges that we perfect ourselves.
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