"The art of marriage"

Tonight my person and I attended a workshop called "The art of marriage." Besides being beyond hilarious at times, it was insightful and very challenging. Here are a few thoughts from the evening:

"The woman may be freaking-out, but the man is freaking-in! So before it becomes a freaking mess, grab her hands and pray!"

"The woman becomes the crocodile and the man the caveman..." 

"Your differences compliment each other, don't let them bring conflict. God created marriage to be 'togetherness' - becoming one, an unbreakable connection, and not emotional distance or isolation."

"The heart of the problem is the problem is the heart."

"You are marrying a sinner - so plan for sin!" 

"Marriage is God's idea - not man's. It is a gift! A union that reflects God's love for us, demonstrated in the selfless act of sending His Son (the cross!) - the ultimate portrayal of love."

"Love is self-denial. Sacrifice." 

"Basis for a marriage: spiritual partnership, friendship, intimacy. Your spouse is God's instrument to help you, to encourage you in your faith."

"We try to change our spouse into the image of ourselves - because we love ourselves the most! But God's goal for marriage is to transform us, using each other, into the image of His Son!" 

[Or something like that - my memory starts to fail be past midnight!] Relationships are full of love, patience, pain, hurt, failure, forgiveness, joy, pleasure, loyalty, trust and hard HARD work... I'm excited for the future!

But one quick last thought: Never enter into a relationship for a sort of happiness, or sense of fulfilment and purpose. No one can complete you or make you whole. People can not bring you ultimate meaning or belonging. Relationships do not cure loneliness. People WILL fail you... but God NEVER will! He is faithful and true, eternal and unchanging. He IS love. You were created first and foremost for a relationship with Him (and then with others) for He ALONE can bring true purpose and fulfilment, our Creator, our Heavenly Father...