That is the principle of the Engaged Encounter....a Marriage Preparation Weekend that Darling and myself have just gone for.
Through this entire weekend, we've learnt so much, gained so much, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Darling has been absolutely wonderful with all his inputs....he has tried really hard to be so open and honest about his feelings, as well as towards all the topics that we have had to discuss about. It's something that I know is so so difficult for Darling....and it really is not easy for someone who does not know how to express all of his emotions and thoughts without fearing judgement. Much as we do a lot of sharing of our opinions, but to continuously think about stuff that is so in depth, and to do it with such honesty and truth just proves how much he wants all of this....how much effort he is willing to put in for our marriage...and just how much he actually trusts me....and it all means so so so much to me. =)
I'm so entirely in bliss right now. I can't fully say what the entire weekend was about, as I don't wanna disclose anything that might hinder others' experience of the EE when they do go for it in the future.....yet...all I can say is that how successful the weekend may be for the couple is highly dependent on how serious the couple is on wanting to actually improve their future marriage life, as well as their current relationship. I think Darling and myself were like the youngest couple there....and many were shocked to see us so young....haha.....but I guess its pretty much the level at which your relationship is at, and whether you think you are ready to move on to the next stage after much consideration.......
We touched on so many topics....mostly really serious ones....and really, it was very much a mental drain over the weekend.....we were like sitting for a continuous 3 day exam......it was talks, then reflecting and jotting down of thoughts, after which we had to share our answers with our partners.......to say the truth, we didn't really need to bother about all the other couples present, as the entire focus was on ourselves, and our relationship. Yet...it was really wonderful...especially since the both of us tried our utmost to listen to the sharings, as well as to really think about the issues and questions posed, then writing out our true feelings.
Though certain issues, i.e. forgiveness, etc are areas where we do not have much problems with, and are also issues with which we have discussed and talked about previusly, but there were also many more that we had to deal with on the spot.....not having a timetable for ourselves to follow was actually also good, as we couldn't then predict what was to happen next, and were constantly on our toes, waiting for the next signal that time was up.....
I guess wat was most important was that we were "far far away" from home and all sorts of distractions, thus allowing us to actually think even deeper about issues than we would have, were we out of this place. All our time was spent on each other and thus, we had time to really "rediscover" one another.
It was a pretty wonderful experience, and allows us now to actually view our relationship in an entirely different light. it's not like we became perfect and ironed out all differences overnight. No. Rather, I feel that we now know the commitment we each have to make this marriage work, and that we are both responsible for everything that happens to us.....and most importantly, God's role in our relationship and in this marriage........
It's funny how Darling and myself don't even feel deprived from the world, i.e. TV, computer, internet, handphones, etc, when during other camps, we would come back feeling so entirely lost from the world, thus feeling the need to actually find out about what has been going on whilst we were "away". It's like right now, we came back, and I actually almost immediately miss being away from all these distractions, as during this weekend, we really felt our love for each other at a whole different level, and at its peak as well. I came back, and my entire focus was to actually spend time showing and reassuring Darling that I love him again....that really amazed me.... coz it's so unlike myself........I don't know if it's coz the entire hype of having just come back from a weekend....but I do know I will keep trying to remind myself of the things I have learnt, and to continue to try my best to put them in practice every single day of my life, so that I can continue to show and reassure him of my love for him, as well as to continue at working to improve this to-be marriage of ours....
Darling darling.......I'll continue to work at making the pledge I made to you come alive every single day of the rest of our lives together......thank you for everything you've done for me over this entire weekend. I really and truly appreciate your effort at making this work.....
I Love You.....
11:09 PM
Life is Beautiful
I love you not only for what you are
but for what you make of me.
">
.jpg)
