Trouble is not the reason why we have decided to take this dare. Growing and stretching our love and relationship skills is why we have. I see no reason why The Love Dare has to only be for Married couples that are having problems and are approaching divorce fast. While yes I think it is an excellent tool to help them, I think it is also a great resource for any couple in any situation. Why not try to save your marriage or relationship before you hit the divorce or break up trail.
The Love Dare is simply a 40 day test that shows you how to truly love people which I think many need. So often is the words I Love You just thrown around it is almost as common as saying hello it seems. I just wonder how many actually fully mean it and know the power those three words have when they say it and feel it to the core. When I look at Jamie when he doesn't know I am watching him I still get those butterflies in my stomach and goosebumps all over my arms. It is like I am a kid who is in love for the first time, and maybe I am. While yes I have been married before and I have children I can say I've never experienced the kind of love like that which I have with Jamie.
So anyways onto The Love Dare. When you first open your book of The Love Dare the first page you read says:
"Receive this as a warning. This Forty Day Journey Can Not Be Taken Lightly.
It Is A Challenging And Often Difficult Process, But An Incredibly Fulfilling One. To Take This Dare Requires A Resolute Mind And Steadfast Determination.
It is Not Meant To Be Sampled Or Briefly Tested, And Those Who Quit Early Will Forfeit the Greatest Benefits. If You Will Commit To A Day At A Time For Forty Days, The Results Could
Change Your Life And Your Marriage.
Consider It A Dare From Others Who Have Done It Before You."
It Is A Challenging And Often Difficult Process, But An Incredibly Fulfilling One. To Take This Dare Requires A Resolute Mind And Steadfast Determination.
It is Not Meant To Be Sampled Or Briefly Tested, And Those Who Quit Early Will Forfeit the Greatest Benefits. If You Will Commit To A Day At A Time For Forty Days, The Results Could
Change Your Life And Your Marriage.
Consider It A Dare From Others Who Have Done It Before You."
Along the way through each of the dares you have to read 2 to 3 pages that talks about the dare you are about to take and in it are some beautiful bible scriptures that reflect the dare and shows you that this is how God intended it to be and how he wants you to live your life with your partner.
Scripture for Day 1:
" Now these three remain:
Faith, Hope, and Love.
But the greatest of these is Love
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love it profits me nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
" Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
" Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger."
James 1:19
Faith, Hope, and Love.
But the greatest of these is Love
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love it profits me nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
" Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
" Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger."
James 1:19
Day 1 Dare:
" The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret."
Under all of this, it then asks you some questions and you are to fill them out after the day has went by.
The questions are:
- Did anything happen today to cause anger towards your mate?
- Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?
Through this dare I learned that I let a lot of other things influence the way my mood is with others, not just to Jamie specifically. Although he would get the majority of it because he is who I interact with the most outside of the boys. I can tell already these dares are going to be quite a humbling experience, but for the good. I feel it is always good to be made aware of our faults from time to time so that we can correct them. Plus we would be the messenger of these faults not someone else, so no one will be shooting the messenger. At least not this time! lol
