This here thing, counseling before marriage, it’s a thing now, I tell ya. Back in my day, we just got hitched and that was that. But these young folks, they got all sorts of ideas. They say it helps, this talkin’ before you tie the knot.
What’s this marriage counseling?
Well, they say it’s like this. You go see some fella who knows about these things, a counselor. You and your sweetie, you sit down and talk. Talk about everything, they say. What you want, what you don’t want, what scares ya.
It ain’t like in the old days. No sir. We didn’t talk about our feelings. You got married, you had kids, you worked hard. That was life. But now, they say you gotta talk. This pre-marriage counseling, they say it’s important.
- You talk about money. How you gonna spend it, who’s gonna earn it.
- You talk about kids. You want ’em? How many? How you gonna raise ’em?
- You talk about your families. How they get along, who’s gonna live where.
- You talk about fights. How you gonna settle ’em when you get mad at each other.
Does it really help?
Now, I hear some folks say it does. They say it helps ’em understand each other better. Like, you know, gettin’ to know someone real good before you promise forever. They say ’bout 70 or 75 out of 100 couples, they feel better after this talkin’. Some say it saved ’em, like 50 or 60 outta 100. Can you believe it?
And this counselor fella, they say he helps you figure out what’s wrong. Why you fight, why you get sad. He teaches ya how to talk nice, how to listen. Some folks, they even change how they do things, how they live together.
Trust, that’s important
This counseling, they say it’s hard when you don’t trust each other. If you think your sweetie is hidin’ somethin’, or lyin’, well, that’s a tough row to hoe. Gotta have trust, they say. Otherwise, it’s like tryin’ to build a house on sand. It ain’t gonna stand.
These young folks, they got it different now. They think about these things. They go to this premarital counseling, hopin’ it’ll make things easier. They even say it’s an effective tool, somethin’ to help ’em start their life together.
Some of these counselors, they got fancy names. They’re professionals, they say. You can find ’em in these things called “Psychology Today” or “Bark”. I don’t know what those are, but the young folks, they seem to know. They use them to find a counselor.
It ain’t for everyone, maybe
Now, I ain’t sayin’ it’s for everyone. Some folks, they just get married. No talkin’, no counselor. And they do just fine. But for others, this before marriage counseling, it might be a good thing.
I heard that it is not what the scripture says, but it does not say no to it either. So, it ain’t a bad thing.
These programs, they help you see what you’re gettin’ into, they say. It’s like lookin’ at a field before you buy it. You wanna know what kind of soil it’s got, what kind of crops it can grow. Same with marriage, I reckon.
It’s encouraged, they say
Some folks, they even say you should do it. Like, it’s a good idea, almost like you have to. It’s encouraged, they say. Like eatin’ your vegetables or sayin’ your prayers.
This premarital counseling, it’s somethin’ to think about, I guess. If you’re gettin’ married, maybe it’s worth a try. Might help you avoid some heartache down the road.
But me? I’m old fashioned. I believe in hard work, and love, and a little bit of luck. But these young folks, they got their own ways. And maybe, just maybe, this counseling before marriage is one of ’em.
You know, it’s like plantin’ a garden. You gotta till the soil, pull the weeds, water the plants. Marriage is like that, too. You gotta work at it. And maybe this counselin’ is like good fertilizer. Helps things grow strong.
But like I said, it ain’t for everyone. Some folks, they just like to plant their seeds and see what happens. And sometimes, that works out just fine, too. It’s all about what you believe in, I reckon. And what you’re willin’ to do to make things work. This world’s changin’, that’s for sure. But some things, like love and marriage, they stay the same. Just gotta find your own way to navigate ’em, I guess. And if this counseling before marriage helps, then good for them young folks. Good for them.
