A Study in Potential Suitors plus a weather report
We’ve been getting these phenomenal thunderstorms that come out of nowhere. It is very cool. So I finally *did* get to watch the rest of Our Mutual Friend, based on the novel by Charles Dickens. I really liked the whole thing. On our way to
Anyways, what we were mainly talking about was how different modern ‘love stories’ of today measured up to Victorian Age ‘love stories’ of the past. In the older stories, one mostly married for money and rank, while today’s love stories are fully “emotion and feelings” driven. But what was *really* interesting to note was that in the literary works we’ve read — past and present — we’ve yet to see a young fictional couple marry because of the great love they shared for Christ. I guess that’s not a very marketable concept, but I know it’s out there. It is exactly why I married Geoff. He personified everything that was good, lovely, noble, and true. Simply put, even tho I was a foolish girl without a full understanding Christ, I was captivated by my husband’s incredible love for the God I adored. I was talking to my girls about that, and brought up the verse in Proverbs (31:30): “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised”. It seems this world (and even the church) chases hard after beauty and charm. We talked how that also applies to what women look for – charming, clever witty young men are adored and handsome young men are sighed after.
Clever, witty and handsome; I asked if these were characteristics my girls would seek in a man when they were ready to marry. I was happy to hear that those attributes were not very highly esteemed. I told them likewise that any young man who was obviously on the market for a charming wife or a beautiful wife would be off of the Igarashi-Son-in-Law-Candidate-List. Any potential suitor who was looking for charm and beauty instead of being driven in their search for “a woman who feared the Lord” would simply not be worth getting. At this point my oldest son Bo piped up and said, “Poor Coie…she’ll never get married”. We all turned to him and collectively shouted, “What?? Why not??” And he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Because she’s so charming”. Ha, I couldn’t argue with the boy and I had to amend my sermonette: "Charm and beauty can be an added bonus sometimes" Ok, this was fun; despite my long, drawn out lecture, later that week I took this quiz – “Who is your Jane Austen husband?” And just guess who I scored as being married to… Mr. Knightly. Yep, the best fictional male character ever created (by Jane Austen or any other author). It’s funny because that is who Coie has always said she wants to marry: A Mr. Knightly. Maybe in twenty to forty years she’ll luck out and get her wish.
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June 19th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments No Responses to ' A Study in Potential Suitors plus a weather report 'Leave a reply |
on June 19th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
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Poor Coie…20 or 40 years? I just love it when brothers adore their sisters (and vice-versa)!
on June 19th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
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You know, one time Ben asked me why I married him, expecting me to say it was his rugged good looks, or that I couldn't resist the curly, red hair. I told him it was his confidence, and the fact that he taught the scriptures like no one I had ever heard. I figured if he had that much confidence in God, we couldn't go wrong. And I was right! Stay away from wishy-washy men Coie! Cheers! Karen (bensrib)
on June 19th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
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Jen Guess What?? I married Edward from Sense and Sensibility… haha
Coie's going to have an amazing man of God.. I can't wait to see who she ends up with!
on June 19th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
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I took that quiz a while back and ended up with Bingley – definitely NOT who I would like! Too indecisive. Jane clearly never met my Mr. Sockmonkey….he's the dreamiest!
on June 19th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Mr Knightly
Knightly was good, but then again so was Colonel Brandon. However on the Knightly track, Coie has 3 choices.
1. marry a man twice her age in order to find Mr Knightly. Not a fate worse than death, but it is rare these days.
2. wait until she's twice as old as she is now, marry Mr Knightly and then have one child a year before time runs out.
3. marry a man who isn't a Mr Knightly yet, but who is headed in that direction. A 22 year old future Mr Knightly isn't going to be quite there yet, but you'll be able to see the direction he's heading in.
Before I asked Karen out on a date, I knew she'd make a good wife for me. And she says she liked me from the first time she heard me preach. Mutual friends saw we would be good together, our church elders thought it was a good match, her parents gave their permission, and we had our first kiss on the wedding day. Twelve years later I'm still not quite a Mr Knightly, but we still love each other and love serving the Lord together.
on June 19th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
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I am thankful that God knew what He was doing when my hubby and I got married, because I was in fairy tale love. I thank the Lord all the time for blessing me with an awesome husband! I am preparing my children now. I pray they are much wiser than their mom and dad when they marry.
on June 19th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
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I just finished listening to a wonderful 2 CD teaching by Doug Phillips. I think it was called How to Evaluate a Potential Suitor… VERY GOOD!
on June 20th, 2007 at 7:38 am
My Sister, The Wise One
Since we are on the subject of Christians dating, my younger sister (who is wise beyond her years) is a youth director and she always tells her teenagers this: When you are on a date with someone, just remember that you are with someone's future husband/wife. How would that "unknown person" like the way that you are treating his/her future spouse? AND…just remember (Jealousy-behave!), that "somewhere out there" your future husband/wife may be on a date with someone else also. How would you want that person dressing while he or she is with your future spouse? How would you want that person treating your future partner? Treat your date with the same respect that you want that young man or young woman to show your future spouse. I hope this makes sense.
on June 20th, 2007 at 10:50 am
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Very good post. I agree with your view of what to look for in a spouse. Of course, I try not to think to much about those things for my 11yo girl. I'm just not ready to face that yet. 🙂
JoAnn
on June 20th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
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Fun quiz…I got Mr. Knightly too.
on June 20th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
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I took another look and realized that this quiz is a different one than I thought. My results are on my blog….and notice Mr. Knightley's place in the queue. I took the quiz several times with varying results…except that Knightley always came in dead last! What does that say about me? Never mind…don't answer that.
on June 20th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
gross
the guy I got is so NOT cute.
I need to get re-married.
your quiz stinks.
anonymous
on June 21st, 2007 at 12:20 am
…
Aww, I would have loved to be in on that whole conversation. You have the best talks with your children, Jen!
You are an inspiration.
Warmly,
Kate
on June 21st, 2007 at 3:28 am
What a hoot!
I got Mr. Darcy! LOL! I never thought about it but I guess it does fit when I read their description! I know mine is certainly my hearthrob.
on June 21st, 2007 at 2:06 pm
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Jen,
Go and check out my blog, my kids made some claymations and an animation at youtube. :0)
on June 21st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
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That Bo is the real charmer, isn't he?
on June 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
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Great post. The couple that I really look up to for child raising, etc, is just moving into this courtship/marriage phase. I am finding it fascinating how they are handling it.
I too was matched up with Mr. Knightly. LOL
on July 11th, 2007 at 8:12 am
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Heh… my sister wants to marry Mr. Knightly, too. Good thoughts here. I've often thought about them (and discussed them with my mother) as we have ten girls and are just beginning to wade into the suitor years. It's interesting!