Falling Back in Love
07/29/08 02:43 Filed in: Family
Jesus challenged the Jews’ thinking about divorce just as He would most certainly challenge America’s thinking on marriage and divorce. The latest census figures show that a married couple now heads only in four American homes. Some surveys suggest that men and women have different expectations of their marriage
“ . . . whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.”
In Jesus’ day, Jewish marriages were arranged. The parents of the bridegroom would select a spouse for their son and meet with her family to negotiate a suitable dowry. In some respects, at least outwardly, it was a business transaction. Romance, if any, was expected to follow the marriage ceremony.
If the marriage didn't work out, the man could simply end it by handing his wife a bill of divorce. She would leave the marriage with nothing more than her clothing and the jewelry she had worn on her wedding day.
Jesus challenged the Jews’ thinking about divorce just as He would most certainly challenge America’s thinking on marriage and divorce. The latest census figures show that a married couple now heads only in four American homes.
Some surveys suggest that men and women have different expectations of their marriage:
When communication breaks down, the marriage bond weakens. While, in some cases, divorce may be the final outcome, it need not be so. Many ministries and organizations stand ready to counsel couples interested in strengthening their marriage bonds. Marriage Encounter is one such ministry.
Marriage Encounter sponsors a weekend retreat in locales throughout the country and for a wide variety of religious denominations. The weekend is an opportunity for couples 'to meet' one another again; 'to renew' their relationship through communication; and 'to discover' new meaning and joy within their marriages. It is not counseling, nor is it group therapy, but it does provide quality time for husbands and wives to pause and refocus their attention on themselves, one another, and their marriages.
Since 1972, more than two million couples have attended a Marriage Encounter weekend and 80-90% say they fell back in love. My wife and I attended one of their weekend retreats in 1972 and even since then we have been meeting once a month with other Marriage Encounter couples.
In Jesus’ day, Jewish marriages were arranged. The parents of the bridegroom would select a spouse for their son and meet with her family to negotiate a suitable dowry. In some respects, at least outwardly, it was a business transaction. Romance, if any, was expected to follow the marriage ceremony.
If the marriage didn't work out, the man could simply end it by handing his wife a bill of divorce. She would leave the marriage with nothing more than her clothing and the jewelry she had worn on her wedding day.
Jesus challenged the Jews’ thinking about divorce just as He would most certainly challenge America’s thinking on marriage and divorce. The latest census figures show that a married couple now heads only in four American homes.
Some surveys suggest that men and women have different expectations of their marriage:
- Women want companionship, romance, intimacy, security and fidelity.
- Men want respect, appreciation, affirmation and a good home life.
- But both spouses seek a true friend who will listen to them without judging them. To listen is to love.
When communication breaks down, the marriage bond weakens. While, in some cases, divorce may be the final outcome, it need not be so. Many ministries and organizations stand ready to counsel couples interested in strengthening their marriage bonds. Marriage Encounter is one such ministry.
Marriage Encounter sponsors a weekend retreat in locales throughout the country and for a wide variety of religious denominations. The weekend is an opportunity for couples 'to meet' one another again; 'to renew' their relationship through communication; and 'to discover' new meaning and joy within their marriages. It is not counseling, nor is it group therapy, but it does provide quality time for husbands and wives to pause and refocus their attention on themselves, one another, and their marriages.
Since 1972, more than two million couples have attended a Marriage Encounter weekend and 80-90% say they fell back in love. My wife and I attended one of their weekend retreats in 1972 and even since then we have been meeting once a month with other Marriage Encounter couples.
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