The Love Dare

This morning, I am so thankful for my spouse & sweetheart. I am thankful for The Love Dare. If you remember my Fireproof post, you will remember that I really loved the movie, and the movie used The Love Dare as the foundation for changing their marriage.

I decided that I would try it! I think Jason & I have a really good marriage, but I realize that it can always be better. After 9 years and 2 kids (plus one almost here), it sometimes lacks the consideration, kindness, passion, love and putting each other first that it should have to really thrive.

I would recommend this book to anyone & everyone - people who's marriages are on the brink of divorce and people who think their marriage can't get any better.

The premise of this book is leading your heart, instead of following it - "The world says to follow your heart, but if you are not leading it, then someone or something else is. The bible says that 'the heart is more deceitful than all else' (Jeremiah 17:9), and it will always pursue that which feels right at the moment."

Each day I read about a quality of love. Do you think you know love? I thought I had a pretty good handle on it, but after reading 80 pages of this book, I'm realizing that I have so much to learn, un-learn, and re-learn about TRUE love. After the love quality, it gives you a dare. I am on day 16 and my dares have ranged from buying something for my spouse to say I was thinking of him (I got him a balloon and a candy bar), to giving him a selfless service, to truly listening to him, to just praying for specific things for him.

Even though I am only halfway through, I have noticed such a change - not just in our marriage or in Jason, but in myself. I am realizing how often I let pride take over instead of letting love and humility lead the way. I have such a long way to go, but I am so thankful for this journey and the change of heart that it's brought.

Accepting this dare has made my appreciation for my sweetheart increase ten-fold. He is such an amazing, good, handsome, wonderful man. I marvel that I was somehow able to capture his heart so long ago and that he has stuck with me - flaws and all.

If you are thinking of taking on this dare, I would suggest buying the book as opposed to getting it from the library. I got mine from the library to start with, but ended up buying a cheap one off Amazon. It's not effective unless you can underline and write in the journal spaces provided.

Just so you know...it is NOT EASY. Worth it, though? Absolutely.

Here's to 24 more days of life-changing, heart-changing love dares!