True or False: Love = Affection

Love is a biblical mandate and is foundational to a successful marriage. You choose to love someone else by putting their needs above your own. It’s a commitment of your will. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Affection is the kind of love that leaves you feeling close, safe, and cared for. In marriage, you feel the passion, and the loving acts become person specific. Affection is also important between parent and child. An affectionate family makes a child feel close, safe, and cared for as well. Affection must be an ingredient in all healthy personal relationships, including those with friends and extended family.

"You cannot give what you do not have"

With this idea, we need to not be overwhelmed by it, instead we need to prepare and take time to learn certain qualities that we will need for the future. Yes, in certain peoples lives, they weren't able to fully develop in certain ways and therefore, this might seem hard. For example, if you don't have a positive outlook on life, how would you be able help someone that is on the verge of taking their life? That example is very far fetched and dramatic, but if they aren't happy to be living life, then they more than likely wont be able to share their joys with others. I think that the best way to break this cycle is to get out there and do things that you aren't used to or even super confident in. Jump in and try  it out. The more you are around it, the more likely you will be to develop an understanding as to how you should act or treat people in situations.

"We badly need to raise our boys more like our girls"

I think this has some truth to it. The reason being is that I think it is key to help them more aware of caring after those around them. BUT the problem with this is that men are supposed to be men. They need to take on a role of taking care of the family and protecting them in all situations. If we say that we need to raise them more like girls, we are taking away their key role in this life. This could also lead to creating a more gay society. Over the past few years while seeking out for a companion, the guys that I tend to like more off the bat are those that are challenging to me and that take the time to listen. In most cases, they have developed these qualities from having sisters. To me, that is a great thing! I think instead of saying we need to raise them to be more like girls, we need to raise them most like gentlemen.

This last week in class we briefly talked about dates within marriage. Sometimes i feel as though this is something that becomes over looked when in a marriage because there are several other things that are more immediate. This should not be the case. A few years ago, a really good guy friend of mine was talking to me about the worries that he had about his parents. He had just found out that they had planned on getting a divorce. He was worried that his life was going to be incomplete and confusing because there wouldn't be that solid foundation of family togetherness. After talking to him I realized the fact that his parents, having 10 children, never took time to be together with one another outside the house. It made me consider my future marriage and what I wanted to keep in mind at that time. My own parents have had a rocky marriage here and there, but through all the stresses that have came their way, they have started going on dates now that there aren't any children left at home. It pleases me to know that by doing this, they are finding that true love that was there when they first got married.