OK....so this is my third post today....but like I said I haven't been around for a while...LOL
My fiance/hubby and I have been attending pre-marital counseling classes at my church and it is the greatest experience. Our church offers a program that is a 2 hour class for 12 weeks. Before you start complaining, just think, you are getting ready to make a commitment for life, you can't commit to 12 weeks to make sure that you are really ready?
Most churches offer counseling that varies in how many times or classes you have to go to....but trust me, it is worth the investment of your time and energy. The counseling will help with communication issues and it forces you to deal with issues like finance that you may tiptoe around when it is just the two of you.
So, my sisters, what I am saying is...If you can and you still have time, get the counseling. It is better to start off on a good strong footing, than to just hope that things will work themselves out after you are married.
OK....so this is my third post today....but like I said I haven't been around for a while...LOL
My fiance/hubby and I have been attending pre-marital counseling classes at my church and it is the greatest experience. Our church offers a program that is a 2 hour class for 12 weeks. Before you start complaining, just think, you are getting ready to make a commitment for life, you can't commit to 12 weeks to make sure that you are really ready?
Most churches offer counseling that varies in how many times or classes you have to go to....but trust me, it is worth the investment of your time and energy. The counseling will help with communication issues and it forces you to deal with issues like finance that you may tiptoe around when it is just the two of you.
So, my sisters, what I am saying is...If you can and you still have time, get the counseling. It is better to start off on a good strong footing, than to just hope that things will work themselves out after you are married.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
Hey 2ndTimeAround. I would love to go to pre-marital counseling. My church doesn't offer formalized classes. I would love to go to someone who has been happily married for a while. My wedding is not until next year 11/06, however I feel counseling is very important. I have no problem investing my time and energy to something so important.
Delight yourself in The Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart!Ps 37
We did a lot of research before settling on the counseling at my church. You can check out other churches, most of them do not require that you be a member to participate in the classes. Your other option would be regular family/marriage counselors, I would just be careful to make sure that you pick someone that will give you counseling based on faith. When it comes to the hard times, you will want to have the lessons from a biblical perspective than one from man's. But I won't get to preaching on here...lol I wish you were in this area, I would drag you to just one of the classes and you would be hooked.
What else that is good about the class setting is that there are 4 or more other couples that are about to take the same BIG step that you are about to take and you talk about issues that all of you are facing. Maybe Phenom can recommend some churches that offer counseling in your area...
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
Amen. I definitely agree with the importance of premarital counseling. My honey and I have definitely had to discuss some serious issues.
"All things are working together for my good." Romans 8:28
This premartial counseling is offered in the Catholics faith as a prerequisite is it not?
Charlotte wishes you all a beautiful Christmas filled with loads of love, laughter and the true meaning of this blessed season.
Great suggestion...My FH & I will be going to premarital counseling. Doing that will also give us a discount at the clerk's office on our application for the marriage license & the waiting period is also waived.
I'm a married woman as of December 2, 2006.
Delight yourself also in the Lord & He shall give you all the desires of your heart.-Psalm 37:4
I also agree that pre-marital counseling is very important. My FH and I will start our sessions in January with our Pastor. I can't wait.
Thanks. I will definitely do my research. Faith based pre-marital counseling is what I definitely want. 2ndtimearound, I wish I could go to your pre-marital classes too, you speak very highly of your classes. I'm sure God will lead me exactly where I need to be. Fortunately I have some time to shop around. Anyway ladies I am in the New York area, if someone has any suggestions for marraige counselors in the New York/New Jersy area, please let me know.
Delight yourself in The Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart!Ps 37
Counseling is a MUST for engaged couples. Your church will provide the service FREE. Also ask your officiamt if you do not belong to a church. They have the best counselors and therapists listed or may do it themselves.
Get social and fan us on http://www.facebook.com/Vibrantbride] Facebook.
I would also like to give a "positive pitch" about counseling. We're on our third session and it's already been beneficial. We get homework and discuss those issues we would usually over look because we wanted to "be nice." We were able to get free family counseling through the city. It's actually a service that is available to the residents in the area. Maybe you could check with local civil agencies to see if they have information. It's worth a shot! I'm so happy to see so many women dedicated to doing whatever it takes to try to build strong marriages. Go girls!!!
I am a firm believer of pre-marital counseling. My FH and I actually have our last session tonight. I must say I am not at all pleased with the couseling provided by my church. One of the ministers, whom by the way has never been married, does the counseling at her house. The past 4 times, all we have talked about was communication and finances. While I know these are a very important aspects of the relationship, there are other things to talk about. We both have children from previous relationships...lets talk about that. I could think of a million other things that need to be discussed. I am going to talk to my pastor on Sunday and let him know that we are not pleased and see if he can sit with us a few times. So, while I am all for pre-marital counseling, please make sure you find someone that knows what needs to be discussed.
So true Nlbostic. While I love my church, I will be seeking pre-maritial counseling some where else. My pastor is divorced and has never counseled any of the couples that have married under his pastorship. I'm sure if people would've asked for counseling they could've received it, but I think that should be something that is offered automatically. I will be receiving counseling from my uncle, who is saved and has been married to the same woman for 50 years. I believe that he can offer my FH and I a counseling experience that will be beneficial to us as individuals, parents and a married couple.
Delight yourself in The Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart!Ps 37
And who better to get advice from than someone who has been there done that and is still doing it anddddd...is family. Girl you getting the best of both worlds.
Charlotte wishes you all a beautiful Christmas filled with loads of love, laughter and the true meaning of this blessed season.