Love and all that Jazz (looking at our archives)

In the lead-up to St. Valentine's Day, it seems fitting to turn back to some of our older posts about love, yearning for a spouse, and serving each other through marriage. Did you miss any of these?

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What's Really Non-Negotiable on a Lutheran "Husband List?"

Kezia asks, "Have you read, "The Husband List: 12 Non-Negotiables?” It’s an article that urges women to make a list of the qualities they want in a future husband. The author says, “The list keeps your standards in check and can help you quickly discern whether or not that guy gets a second date. It protects your heart against unnecessary wear and tear.” She provides an ambitious list of “non-negotiables” that she says are based on Scripture." Read the rest here.  


Is Your Boyfriend "The One?"

Kaitlyn quotes, " 'I mean it’s crazy…' / 'What?' / 'We finish each other’s…' / 'Sandwiches!' / 'That’s what I was gonna say!' " and looks at the whole crazy concept of "soulmates." Read the rest here. 


When the Single Life Leads to Despair

Elizabeth says, "I am a single woman working on my MA degree with the hope of becoming a deaconess in the Lutheran church. Being an unwed woman at this time has some advantages, as I am able to go wherever the church decides to send me and I only have to consider myself in the move. However, the unwed life does have its own burdens. When most people think of the temptations that assail a single person, the most expected, perhaps even anticipated, response to the question of temptation for a single Christian is the temptation of sexual lust. Yes, it is a temptation; a rather strong temptation at times." Read the rest here.


Did You Marry the Wrong Man?

Ruth begins," 'My husband and I have been happily married for 11 years,' a friend of mine quips, 'and we’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary this summer.' I’m sure some of you can relate to this. Marriage is hard work, and unlike the 'happily ever after' we’ve been programmed to expect from Hollywood, our own marriages don’t work out that way. We go through hard times, we argue, we realize we don’t have as much in common as we thought we did. And at some point in the life of pretty much any marriage, there comes a time when you start to think an awful thought- What if I married the wrong person?" Read the rest here.  


A Vocational Approach to Saying "Yes"

Anna says, "One of my eight-year-old students once asked me why I wasn’t married. 'All you have to do,' she explained, 'is to find a man who likes you a lot and be really nice to him.' The funny thing is that during that same school year, a long-time (male) family friend began calling me on the phone to chat. Apparently I was suitably nice to him, because by spring break he proposed. I said yes. We picked out a lovely ring. By the end of the summer, we were married (since then we have advised marriage to everyone we know, if they can possibly manage it—marriage is awesome)." Read the rest here. 


Loving My Closest Neighbor

Dana says, "As Lutherans, we often talk about serving our neighbor. When we think of the command to 'Love our neighbors as ourselves,' we usually think of doing something for someone outside our own families. If we have children, we may also think of serving them. But how about our husbands? A woman may inwardly protest, 'Wait a minute, isn't he supposed to be serving me? The Bible says that the husband is supposed to love the wife like Christ loves the church. I know I am supposed to submit to him and respect him, but please don't ask me to do one more thing.' Yet in the midst of our busy lives, God tells us to love and honor our spouse. How can we serve our husbands in fulfillment of the command to love our neighbors as ourselves, and what are some pitfalls to avoid in this pursuit?" Read the rest here.