Both Bob and Sandy feel angry, hurt, and betrayed. This was not what they had anticipated. The honeymoon didn't last nearly as long as they had dreamed it would. The promise of happiness and security and intimacy and mutual care is fading away in the hard realities of their marriages.

They are not alone. Their feelings are duplicated in marriage after marriage. And divorce rates would be even higher if so many young people were not choosing to just live together.

In addition, 50 percent of all young adults today grew up in homes that went through the sad, bitter, sometimes violent process of a marriage breakup. They saw what it did to Mom and Dad, and they don't want it to happen to them.

But marriages don't have to turn out that way. In spite of divorce statistics, and in spite of the additional number of unhappy relationships that remain intact, marriage still offers a "made in heaven" opportunity to discover the real meaning and richness of love.

True, it will take a lot of work. But so does everything worthwhile.

True, we'll have to make sacrifices. But what we receive in personal dividends from a healthy relationship far outweigh the losses.

True, current odds may be against it. But if we follow a few basic principles, the odds change dramatically in our favor.

True, it's a big responsibility, especially when children come along. But with that responsibility comes the authority and help of God to turn that responsibility into satisfying results.

True,there are other ways to satisfy the pangs of loneliness and feelings of discontent. Our generation is infatuated with "love triangles," "office affairs," and the illusion of "safe sex." But who on his deathbed will say he's glad he had the chance to enjoy sexual intimacy outside of marriage?

True, it may seem that the best idea is to get out of a bad marriage before the bitterness and anger destroys you. But many hurting people have already discovered that as terrible as a loveless marriage is, an anger-filled divorce can't put it all behind you.

We need to see the possibilities of people who will put as much into marriage as they did into their dating relationship. We need to see husbands and wives filled with gratitude for being treasured in spite of all of their flaws and imperfections. We need to see the possibilities of two mature people who love each other deeply, not because of what they don't know, but because they have learned the meaning of a love and a forgiveness that endures. We need a vision of husbands who, in spite of children and tight finances, will find ways to date their wives as they did before marriage. We need a vision of people touching and talking and embracing until parted only by death itself.

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