| Twogether in Texas Night Classes |
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By Rebecca Blanchard It struck a chord. Marriage is serious and if not taken care seriously the relationship could die.
Another man said that marriage is like a football game, the victory didn’t matter nearly as much as playing as a team. This great analogy also hit its target. Being a team is what marriage is really about. There is love and passion, naturally, but there also is commitment, taking care of each other throughout the years, after the looks begin to fade and the passion begins to diminish. The first man to speak that evening stumbled for an answer, mainly because he was surprised that he was chosen to answer the question before anyone else. So, before he said something that might embarrass himself, he said nothing. Smart man. When caught off guard or suddenly upset, people will often strike out verbally, saying things that should never be said. When we learn to hold our tongues and think before we speak, the message we send is often more meaningful and beyond that, it is heard. These were just a few of the many thoughts and opinions that were shared that night. And these came from the very first session of the class.
Visit the Twogether in Texas program Region 5 at: www.servingtexasfamilies.org. Not only is there a full schedule of the classes offered, but the registration form is also online. Call Twogether in Texas Region 5, at 409-833-2668. |
Barbara A. Evans, the Jefferson County AgriLife Family and Consumer Science agent, showed such poise and interaction with her couples in the first-ever Beaumont night class for Twogether in Texas Region 5 this past June 16 that I almost didn’t leave. I wanted to stay and watch all the grins and hear the laughter as the couples enjoyed their classmates’ explanations of what love is. One young man compared marriage to cancer, a shocking answer until he explained that cancer was serious; it needed to be taken care of so the patient didn’t die.
We never really know what’s going to be said in these workshops, but we do know this — from the moment these couples step into the room, the ice is broken almost immediately and these attendees quickly realize that while they’re having fun, laughing, even pointing a finger or two at their fiancées, they’re getting the Twogether in Texas message from each and every segment of the class. They clearly see the deeper meanings, that marriage is forever and, as another young man put it, there will be peaks and valleys.
That’s a given. Life is full of peaks and valleys, but when you have a partner beside you during these good and bad times, it’s possible to overcome almost anything. Each and every obstacle faced and conquered makes a couple stronger and more confident in each other. The challenge may be bitter, but victory is sweet.
It means picking up the slack when one of you is down. Couples must look beyond today and realize that with each tomorrow things will change, be that financially, or through a health problem, or realizing and working through some simple problem that seems much larger than it really is.
Twogether in Texas certainly is a win-win program, because you stand to learn so much and you also save $60 off your marriage-license fee. Give it a try and give long life to your marriage as well.