How Not to Get Married

Every six month or so, ABC introduces us to a "desirable" man or women, looking to find someone "amazing" who will eventually become their "soul-mate" and live happily ever after as man and wife. The premise of this show is that this "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette" meets 20 plus members of the opposite sex and it becomes a contest to see who can scheme their way into this person's heart. And somehow, I usually get sucked into to watching a few episodes, just to see how "amazingly" offtrack these people are. The last episode of the current "Bachelor", Ben, ended on Monday. I had only seen parts of the first episode where the girls were introduced to Ben. One girl happened to be from my home state of Nebraska. I'm not sure how far she got but I think her days were numbered when she mentioned something about a shotgun and eating parts of cattle that most people wouldn't eat or even knew existed! So now we're down to the last two girls who come home to meet Ben's family. Both confess that they are in love with him and they would accept his proposal of marriage at the final ceremony. In fact, most of the women on the show are trying to fulfill their childhood fantasy of marriage, to someone who resembles their "Prince Charming". I'll have to admit that I never had that fantasy (as noted when I tried to cram 200 people into my wedding reception and ran out of food and drink!) My fantasy growing up was either to A) Play professional football-this was long before the days of Title IX! B) Sing professional, preferable with Kenny Rogers-never mind me not being able to sing! or C) Become a veterinarian and raise dogs. I remember declaring to my mother that I couldn't see myself living with no less than 10 dogs (I'm sure she was thrilled!). In reality, I was quite good at basketball, I am married, my husband is a singer and has done some professional work, and we have 3 dogs. I've concluded that three is our limit for our dog pack, since I've discovered that female dogs don't always get along, not unlike the girls on the "Bachelor". With everyone yearning for the attention of the male, in our case-Sunny-things can go from sweet face to ripped ears in a matter of seconds. And in the T.V. show, there's no one with a squirt bottle or clanging pans to cool them off! So, as love would have it, Ben and the two finalist end up in Switzerland for the final rose ceremony (and this one also comes with a ring). Seems like Ben got jilted before on his last proposal (to the previous "Bachelorette") so this time was going to be different. He was not going to get down on his knees to propose unless he knew it would be forever. Well, forever lasted a couple weeks. Once the glow of the Swiss Alps faded into the sunset, Ben and his newly engaged fiance, Courtney drifted apart. Seems like dinner at Long John Silvers just doesn't compare to Puerto Rico, Panama, or Belize-the destinations of many of the getting to know you dates. Welcome to reality Ben, Courtney, Lindzey (with a "z")and all the other ladies. True love isn't about a feeling. It's about an action and it begins with loving the true God who made us and His Son who set us free. May we all live to glorify and honor Him.