Fireproof was released on Friday and I took the afternoon off to see the matinee. The movie is fantastic and a must see for everyone who is married, separated or divorced.

Ladies – Have you ever felt like your husband just doesn’t understand you.  That they have no clue about all the hard work you do?  Have you ever felt bitter or angry that you work all day and then are expected to clean the house, do the laundry, take care of the kids, go shopping, etc, and it still isn’t enough?

Gentlemen – Do you think that all your hard work is not appreciated and that you are not respected?  After all, you work hard all day only to come home to a house that isn’t like YOU think it should be, right?

Has this anger, bitterness and resentment that you have been harboring over the years started to affect your communication and affection toward your spouse?  Has it affected your desire to care about your spouse?  Have you even started to doubt your love for your spouse?  Are you starting to think you would have more peace if you just “got out?”

Catherine & Caleb, the main characters in the movie felt the same.  Neither one had taken the time over their seven year marriage to understand or learn about each other.  They lived their own lives, they grew farther and farther apart.  They were both tempted, and those temptations lead to thoughts and desires of just giving up on their marriage.

As you watch the movie you will find yourself saying “I thought I was the only one going through this.”  Rest assured, you are not and this movie is a testament to that.  Most marriages go through this to some extent, sadly from the divorce statistics, it seems only half survive.  As one line in the movie says “when most people promise ‘for better or for worse’ they only mean for the better” and give up or run away when it gets worse.

Caleb was talking to his dad about the fact that he and Catherine were headed for divorce.  His dad asked him to hold off, just for 40 days and offered him the book “The Love Dare”.  Caleb had enough desire in him to save his marriage that he decided to give it a try, but it was a half hearted try at best.  After a few weeks of trying The Love Dare, Caleb was ready to give up until his dad explains what love is all about, and what it takes to be able to give unconditional love.

This movie has a little bit of everything, it will make you laugh and cry as it touches on nearly every area of life, including work, your parents, even the neighbors.   It is a great reminder of several things:

• God expects us to love our spouse as He loves the church.
• God’s love for us is unconditional, that is the example we are to follow with our spouse by loving them unconditionally as well.
• Love is not a feeling, it is a commitment.
• Marriage is not a contract, it is a covenant for a lifetime.
• With Jesus Christ as our foundation all marriages can succeed, be healed, and restored.

This movie is worth seeing, and I would see it again in a heartbeat.   Please pray it will touch couples nationwide and show that marriage and love is not a fight, but it is something worth fighting for, regardless of the circumstances.