Marriage

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday February 13, 2006

You never know just what the news may hold for the day. Back on February 4, this year 2006 of our Lord, the AP ran an article concerning the Army's new program to educate the military in the fine art of choosing and keeping a mate.

This noble endeavor was undertaking as the 'Brass' discerned an unacceptable divorce rate in the Army, National Guard and Reserve. It seems since the beginning of war in Afghanistan 56,000 soldiers have went through the valley of marital break up.

The official title for the program is "P.I.C.K A Partner," meaning Premarital Interpersonal Choices and Knowledge. The idea is to be careful in picking a partner and hold off on the picking once you have picked the 'One.' The un-official title being bandied about by the Chaplains is, "How To Avoid Marrying A Jerk."

F.A.C.E.S equals, Family background, Attitudes, Compatibility, Experience in previous relationships and Skills they'd bring to the union.

I thought the idea of checking family background was wise, even in the Biblical sense for as B.R. Lakin was fond of saying concerning the marriage of Christian to non-Christian, "It is forbidden in scripture and a Christian who violates this plain teaching of the Bible and marries a person who is not a Christian will have trouble with the father in law." The Army most likely has a different spin on this.

Attitudes! When two young people marry and have the attitude of a Pit Bull, it may good that they are already in a war zone! Can you imagine sailing the Sea of Matrimony with the possessed Capitan Ahab or Lizzie Borden. Many are trying this very thing. Regular attitude adjustments are essential in all areas of life, especially marriage. Zig Ziglar often referred to the necessity of a 'Check you from the neck up.'

Compatibility. Physically a man and woman are compatible. Check the electric sockets for verification of this. Compatibility in other areas is enriched by having the Attitude of Christ concerning faults and failure. To adapt the attitude of seeing each others faults with the heart and eye of kindness and grace, rather than one of contempt.

Experience in previous relationships. A five time failure in life's most intimate union is very like to add number six to the total.

Skills brought to the union is a vast subject and it doesn't matter; until you're in the marriage. At that point it is discovered that no one has enough skill to live on love alone!

What do you say to the projected cost of teaching this program which the article said has been approved to the tune of 5.6 Billion dollars.

True love is very costly.

Ephesians 5:25 plainly teaches this, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it."

Sacrifice of self is and always will be part and parcel of true love.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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