Who made the rule that says if you love someone you give them everything their heart desires? True love often says, "No!"

You're not really engaged until you have a ring and a marriage date.

You're not really married until you have a mutual commitment for life!

Love means having to say you're sorry, often.

Real love waits for sex until after the ring, the vow, and many witnesses.

Children need two responsible parents, one male and one female.

Real marriage is between consenting adults of the opposite sex, who leave father and mother, become one flesh, and forsake all others.

Real parents are responsible for their children until their children are properly trained and old enough to assume total responsibility for themselves.

Responsible childen respect their parents particularly when they disagree with them.

Be you. Be real. Be honest. Be true to you. There is no excuse for not being honest, true and real. It doesn't mean you have to be unloving or unkind to be you and be true, it just means you stop pretending to be someone you are not. If you are not free to be you, then the person who loves you is really in love with a myth!

Accept the consequences of being you! It is much better to be loved for the person you are than for something you are not!

Besides, are you not sick of all the pretense?

When did you decide that your self-worth is determined by how others act (or don't act) toward you?

You are loved and lovable, regardless if anyone in this world ever loves you or not. You are valued and you are precious, whether anyone ever listens to your advice or lives up to your expectations!

You are loved! You are valued! How do I know that? Because Christ died for you! Don't ever forget it! Don't let anyone convince you differently.

Stop trying so hard to get others to love you! Repeat after me:

"There is nothing I can do or say to make any person love me."

Love should not have to be forced or begged. Give it up! Accept what love the other person is willing (or able) to offer. If that is unsatisfactory to you (and you're not married to them), look elsewhere. If you are married to them, pray for a heart change! But, stop expecting from them what they are unable or unwilling to give! It'll make your life so much easier.

Some persons are incapable or unwilling to give others the love they need. If it has to be coerced, is it truly love?

My wife and I often play this joke in public around our anniversary:

“Is today your anniversary?”

“Yes, twenty-five years of wedded bliss.”

“So, you’ve been married twenty-five years?”

“No, twenty-eight. We figure twenty-five out of twenty-eight isn’t bad!”

Every relationship struggles, but can love that is lost be restored over time? Absolutely!

The first thing you need is a fresh commitment from each person. Both persons must return to working full-time to keep the relationship viable.

Also, when love is lost the question is not, “DO you still love me?” The question is: “WILL you still love me?”

Two persons, willing to REMAIN married and ACT lovingly toward each other can make a relationship survive (on life support) until love and trust returns. Loving acts are possible in spite of what you feel.

It is amazing how quick love returns in a heart (and toward a heart) that is willing to act lovingly.