1 / 65

What about Parents’ Matching their Children?

What about Parents’ Matching their Children?. A Story of God’s Love. Email me: Jim Stephens5 @comcast.net. Websites: www.familyfed.org/bfd. Copies of this powerpoint will be provided free (on the website).

bainbridge
Download Presentation

What about Parents’ Matching their Children?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. What about Parents’ Matching their Children?

  2. A Story of God’s Love

  3. Email me: JimStephens5@comcast.net Websites: www.familyfed.org/bfd Copies of this powerpoint will be provided free (on the website). Feel free to copy for use for church meetings, family discussions, HDH, pre-matching discussions and preparation with your children. National Matching Ministry for Older BC’s National Coordinator: Mrs. Yasuko Takahashi Email: ktaka10591@aol.com.

  4. 2 biggest issues facing parents in matching their children. #1 We don’t know enough other couples. #2 How do we do it? Parents’ Matching Convocations Feb. 16-17, 2008, Hayward, CA May 24-25, 2008, Washington, DC July 26-27, 2008, Chicago, IL October 24-26, 2008, UTS www.familyfed.org/bfdGet this PPT and have a local parents’ meeting. Websites Local meetings

  5. Importance of unity between the parents and equal ownership. • If one parent takes the full responsibility and the other has no ownership, it is more likely there can be difficulties. BOTH perspectives are equally valuable and essential. • If the parents are not united, it’s much more difficult for the children to feel a strong foundation and support for the matching. • Parents’ relationship and love for each other is the model for your children. They judge their parents against the ideal we espouse. • We are creating and pioneering the Traditions for the eternal Kingdom of Heaven (i.e. matching). We will make mistakes.

  6. Comment on Parental Love • Parents’ love for children means they would die for them. • In parents’ eyes the children can “do no wrong”. • CAUTION 1: Parents’ are biased by their love. • CAUTION 2: Matching is very intense and emotional. • CAUTION 3: Don’t do it alone. And don’t do it in a vacuum.

  7. Getting Started • God started a long time ago working on the match for each of your children… Parents have the responsibility to guide them in this tradition and tell them from 10 years old that they will be matched. The average girl starts thinking about marriage around 12 or 13. The average boy probably not until at least 16, maybe 18 or 19. Be prepared. Don’t let their friends tell them about it before you. • When to start. Start RIGHT NOW. • Study about matching and read testimonies. • Study Father’s words on matching. Study Dae Mo Nim’s guidance (see website). Read the many matching testimonies. • Decide a plan or a strategy as a couple. • Figure out what your couple believes about the matching process. Husband and wife need to take a lot of time together to discuss matching. Make sure you know what the ideal is that you are going to present to your children. Make a list of points to discuss about matching with your Blessed Child. Pray for guidance. Meet other couples and share with them a lot. Have others over for dinner. Be intentional.

  8. Getting Started II • God’s guidance can come from any direction but you will never notice it unless you are looking for it. (ex. RAS) • Lay a worthy foundation. • Be prepared. • Make it easier on God. Pray and study hard. Set aside serious time for this. This is serious. It requires a serious undisturbed time commitment. • Do “task oriented” conditions (i.e. maybe not fasting and HDH). Talkprivately with the BC a lot to properly prepare them. Ask them lots of questions to see what they are thinking. Meet other parents socially. • Expect misunderstandings. • Almost everyone reports (confidentially) how difficult it was to understand other families, expectations gone awry, assumptions that proved false and even disruptive, immense challenges that they overcame. • What is “exchange marriage”? • God is looking at generations of descendants later, not at these two individuals and their idiosyncrasies. Have a “big view.”

  9. Getting Started IIICommunicate, Communicate, Communicate • Plan several discussion sessions. Don’t rush it. Go over your list of points to discuss about matching. Get his/her opinions and preferences. Talk about trust in each other. Talk about faith in God and each other. Talk about commitment in relationships. What about confidentiality? • Talk to your child • Go out someplace away from home so this will be a strictly private discussion. No younger siblings should be allowed. Make this a special occasion in the child’s life. Take this seriously. There is no such thing as too much give and take. • Agree together how to proceed. • Talk about how to prepare yourselves as parents and how the BC should prepare him or herself. Decide on any conditions you want to do. Decide how you are going to work together with God. Are you going to ask God for signs? How are you going to decide on a match? Agree on guidelines within your family. Are you ready? How will you know? Talk to OTHER couples.

  10. Getting Started: A Little Reassurance • Assume God is going to work. Look for how God is working in your matching process. Or decide how you want to have God work. • God will work in the matching process in ways similar to ways he has always worked in your life. Some have dreams. Some have visions. Some relate to God by observations and signs, etc. • God wants to be involved. God is intimately involved already and more serious than you are. Let Him play His role. • God is obligated to be involved because (1) it was His original Principle of Creation that parents do this together with Him and (2) True Father has bequeathed the responsibility to parents and God must have agreed and must follow the Principle and support it. • CONCLUSION: Parents’ don’t have to MAKE (i.e. force) the match, they can search to FIND a match already prepared by God.

  11. The Searching • Some parents wait until the child says, “I’m ready”. Others start the process before and inform the child that they are making contacts. • It could take years. • Start making contacts, connections, discuss it. • When to start the searching. • Contact your friends, church leaders, and local church parents to make people aware you are looking. Ask for suggestions and ideas. Think of other sources like older BC’s, matched couples, youth leaders, friends of your child, etc. Follow up on leads that may go several layers. Network. Follow your intuition. Everyone is unique and God works uniquely. My advice: DON’T BE PASSIVE. • Use of the websites: www.bccandidates.com and www.absolutelove.org and www.blessedfamilies.org • Familiarize yourself with all the information on the matching website. Get a password. Look over the candidates. Ignore the “meat market” syndrome. • Matching Support Ministry: Mrs. Takahashi • Binders of pictures. Meetings at Belvedere.

  12. The Searching II • Have a public heart for all BC’s. • This is not a competition to get the best ones before they are all taken. • Don’t center exclusively on your own child. Want God’s will and happiness for other couples and BCs also. • Be patient. If you project a feeling of desperation, it’s a “turn-off”. • Pray for other BC’s. • Help other parents to find matches for their children before the time for your own. Try to have God’s point of view. Share with others.

  13. Different Matching “Styles” • Parents and child relationship (vertical) • What is the functioning relationship in your family between parents and the Blessed Child (i.e. are they close and do they share a lot or not so much)? Are the parents totally subject in finding a match and the child will unite in faith? OR will they be talking and thoroughly discussing each candidate? OR is the child the one that will be the controlling factor (the “Subject”) in the search process? • Parents to other parents (horizontal) • Will the parents contact as many families as possible (shotgun approach)? Or will the parents deal with only one family at a time and thoroughly decide about that family before considering another candidate (sequential approach)? • Be sure to tell other couples when you first contact them about your “matching style”.

  14. “Matching Style Matrix”

  15. Making initial contact • Keep it light. Get more serious gradually. • “Hello. We saw that your son/daughter is eligible to be matched. Is that still true?” • “We might be interested to meet you/email you/talk on the phone to get to know your family better.” • Parents get to know each other besides focusing on the boy and girl. • It’s very valuable if the parents take time to get to know the other parents and family. God is very idealistic in matching, so be sure you understand the practical reality of what you are getting into. Take it slow. Avoid rushing, especially if any one of the six is hesitating. • Remember the importance of husband and wife unity to “hear” from God.

  16. Defining the “Right Match” • How will the Parents come to a conclusion that this is the “right one”? • Will they require some kind of “confirmation from God”? • Will BOTH require a confirmation or is only one OK? • How will the BC conclude this is the “right one”? • Will he/she require a confirmation from God? • How will he/she take ownership of this eternal commitment?

  17. Sealing the Deal • In some cases, you may involve the boy and girl earlier. • The parents of the boy can meet the girl. The parents of the girl can meet the boy. Conduct an “interview”. • Once the parents believe they want to make the match and God agrees, then decide how to introduce it to the children. • Boy and girl now must decide to accept the match and take 100% ownership. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. • Consider a “betrothal” time period before the formal matching. This is BEFORE any public announcement. • Once the boy and girl are ready for full commitment, then have a public commitment ceremony to seal the match. • Celebrate. Involve families, friends. Vows and pledge. Songs. Holy wine.

  18. Sealing the Deal II • Blessing workshops, education, and training. • Purity interview • HSA Application Forms, reporting, pictures • AIDS test • Second Generation Dept. wants forms of eligible candidates before matching. Also there is a Matching Report Form. Reporting to church leaders and acquiring proper signatures is a must. True Parents want to see every match and have a chance to give their feedback.

  19. Sample questions • What if the parents lack confidence? • So, what else is new? We are pioneering everything. True Father with God’s agreement has bequeathed this responsibility to parents. Therefore it is “God’s will” and He will help you. He has to by the Principle and by His Own Nature, provided we do our portion.

  20. Sample questions • What if a BC lacks confidence in his/her parents? • Not new either. Even worse is if they lack a relationship with their parents. • Bottom line however, the parents ARE still the child’s best hope for finding a good spouse when compared to any other worldly options. (Second to parents is input from the child, siblings, BC friends, other church members, leaders, etc.) When no parents, then church “aunts” and/or “uncles” need to help.

  21. Sample questions • What if all 6 agree, but we didn’t get any message from God? • Bottom line, any match you decide together with the four parents and the two BC’s united will likely be accepted by God. • With the right attitude, support, and commitment, education, and SKILLS, it will be a successful marriage.

  22. Sample questions Receive it is an honor. They thought highly enough of you to consider your child for matching to their child, the most precious person in their life. Extend every common courtesy and decency. “We received your inquiry about our son (daughter). It is an honor. Here is our situation regarding a matching at this time…” Pray and ask God for His guidance. (Maybe He is behind this in some way or for some reason.) “We would like to take 3 days to pray about what we should do and whether we should take the next step with you. We will contact you in 3 days.” Recontact them in 3 days with what you received from God. …“We didn’t receive any indication from our prayers to move forward. We will keep praying in case anything might change.” • Question: What do you do if some family contacts you and inside your reaction is “Oh no”?

  23. Sample questions • Question: What do you do if one family is having strong revelations that a match is from God but the other family is getting no “signs” at all? Do you make the match? I advise against it. Unless the parents have faith from God that this is His match, they will not be able to confidently present it to their child. Secondly, when struggles come, there will be doubts that it was the right decision. They will be too concerned about the temporary happiness of their child.

  24. Sample questions • Question: What do you do if both sets of parents and the girl all think it is from God, but the boy is hesitating? I advise to wait. Unless the boy takes full ownership of his own decision and commitment by exercising his own free will, he cannot maintain his commitment when struggles come. He has to feel it was his decision. He has to take the “subject” position/role in the marriage.

  25. Sample questions Warn your children early (like 10 years old) that this kind of experience must be reported immediately to the parents and kept secret from everyone else, especially their friends. • Question: What do you do if the BC girl or boy gets some dream or “sign” that they are supposed to be matched to a certain person? This type of experience may be from God, but it has the potential to cause havoc if not handled correctly. Potential problems include the following and more (1) the BC gets an unhealthy attachment to the supposed spouse, (2) friends who find out talk it up on the “grapevine”, (3) the other BC finds out and reacts in an unhealthy way, (4) either set of parents or both get upset, (5) a very messy situation develops between the families with lots of misunderstanding and hurt feelings, (6) the relationship between one or both BC’s and their parents is damaged.

  26. Sample questions • Question: Should we expect that all 4 parents, both the young man and woman, and even their siblings will all be 100% totally satisfied with this matching? NO.

  27. Sample questions • Question: What if we have 2 or 3 children that are all ready to be matched? Should we focus only on the oldest one and match them in order? Probably better try to do all of them at once. There is no way of knowing the timetable of when the prospective matches will also be ready. The most “favorable” match for your #2 or #3 child might be missed if you focus on matching your oldest first and going in order of age.

  28. Sample questions This is often to be expected. BC girls are like his sister and not seductive. • Question: What if the boy doesn’t feel “physically attracted” to the girl? Girls have been raised like “nuns” and taught to be a sister and not a potential date. Their vast experience of give and take is with other girls and they don’t understand each other. Boys tend to be “visual” and are bombarded by images in the media/Internet, at school, and in society of sexually attractive girls. If boys are not educated differently, they will make the mistake of expecting to have a feeling of “physical attraction” for the girl. They expect to “fall in love” (girls too) which is not real love. Talk with boys about marrying a girl like “MOM” or a saint like Mother Theresa as the true route to happiness.

  29. Sample questions No. Jacob Children were conceived before their parents performed the 3-Day Ceremony which accomplishes the Change of Blood Lineage. Jacob Children have the same lineage as First Gen, i.e. the fallen blood lineage. Taking Holy Wine can forgive sins, but it cannot change blood lineage. All First Gen walk a course of restoration prescribed by True Parents which is 7 stages: (1) matching by True Parents or their representative, (2) Holy Wine Ceremony, (3) Blessing Ceremony, (4) Indemnity Stick Ceremony, (5) 40-Day Separation, (6) 3-Day Ceremony, and (7) 3 years of public life. This is taught in the Blessing Workshop and explained in Blessing and Ideal Life. True Father has matched several Jacob Children to Second Gen. but in each case the Second Gen. was a girl over 30 years old. The Messiah has the authority from God to forgive sins and make this match, but he has not given it to anyone else. Second Gen. are born like Jesus, into God’s lineage. If they marry a First Gen., then they are returning to First Gen. status, i. e. Adam-Eve’s lineage. After Eve had fallen, immature Adam should not have married her. Only after he had reached perfection would he be in the Messiah position to restore Eve. • Question: My son (or daughter) really likes this Jacob Child. Can they be matched to each other?

  30. Sample questions You are not required to reveal this information to another family and advice will vary. However, there are some very important emotional concerns. 1. Any family or BC has a right to refuse to accept a match like this. 2. Although God has forgiven the sin and may remember it no more, still the actions cannot be erased from the memory of the one who did it. 3. Secrets are hard to keep. If a couple is Blessed and then the secret comes out, the pure one can feel tremendously betrayed. Also, the one who made the mistake will carry a heavy burden similar to “living a lie” and may never feel that he would really be loved if the truth were to come out so there will always be a barrier of heart. 4. In the marriage bed, different levels of experience will be pretty obvious. 5. If God has chosen this match and guided these families, they are likely prepared in faith for this situation. But everyone must be sensitive and caring and “diplomatic” in dealing with it. • Question: My son (or daughter) fell and then attended the Amnesty Ceremony and is a restored Second Generation. Do we have to tell other parents that he fell or should we keep it a secret?

  31. Closing Thoughts • Not just two individuals are being matched…Two families are being matched. • The family “cultures” WILL be different…. Including husband-wife relationships, parenting styles, sibling relationships, attitudes toward Divine Principle, True Parents, “the church”, spiritual life…endlessly. • Celebrate and appreciate the differences. This is an “exchange marriage”. • Expect to be continuously involved FOREVER as parents.

  32. In Summary: A Story of God’s Love

  33. Suggestion: Read testimonies on www.bccandidates.com: Testimony by Judith Mogavero.  ...At first, I was a little skeptical about it because my parents had no clue what was going on. My dad didn’t even know that True Parents had given parents the responsibility to match their own children. It wasn’t like I didn’t trust my parents, but more like I was wondering how this would all turn out.  ... I made sure that I talked with Heavenly Father everyday to give Him an update about me and tell Him at least how my day was, how I could improve and make my days better and how I can make a bigger and better impact on people. I wanted to do this the right way. I wanted to secure a good, vertical relationship with God and with my parents first before even thinking or picturing myself being matched or Blessed. Without doing that, I knew I would truly be lost.  ... I feel that saving myself for him was the best decision I ever made in my life. It was completely and incredibly worth it. God works in the most amazing ways.

  34. Testimony by Yolanda (Yoli) Watanabe ... I opened every single girl's file on the Website one by one, at different times, different days, but nothing resonated much. AND THEN there she was, a soft, gentle smile, that felt very familiar and very warm. I was very excited to find out about her and her family. Testimony by Bill and Susan Starr ...At the Pilgrimage in Israel last December 2003, Marlo heard God’s voice during her prayer, “You are the dangerous daughter of God. You are the key to the 3rd generation.” ... When Marlo’s photo was posted on the matching website, she said she felt “more peaceful and powerful”.  .. when I opened Yolanda’s letter, I had a deep emotional experience. ‘I was sitting at my desk at work having lunch. First I read your letter. As soon as I saw your son’s photo, I unexpectedly began to weep and I could not stop---I was trying to stop as I was in the office situation. I closed the photo after just a few seconds, but spirit world was there for at least ten minutes’.

  35. My Testimony by Tiffany Sabo. Since I was twelve, I wondered what it would be like to get matched. The matching was always the number one thing to talk about amongst us 2nd generation sisters. I could not imagine what it would be like to actually be matched by my parents. I wondered what kind of person would they choose and how the matching would unfold.  …My mom hadn’t told my dad yet but she couldn’t wait any longer so she called him on the cell phone and told my dad how she had seen Ryan’s picture on the website and couldn’t sleep just thinking about him and how she felt very strong about him.  ...So, if someone were to ask me how they can prepare for the matching I would tell them to keep their purity and that someday they will look back and be very proud that they stayed true for their “someone special” ...I also feel that the relationship between parents and their children is very important in the matching process. Although my relationship with my parents isn’t perfect, I am grateful that I felt comfortable to be able to freely talk about the matching and the importance of the blessing.  Also, I can talk to my parents about their experience being matched and how to prepare for the future.

  36. Testimony by Fran Ichijo Certainly we are all breaking new ground in this era of CIG, but my husband and I never imagined that our son, who is “special needs”, could receive the Blessing even though in the backs of our minds we dreamed it. Our thinking had been so limited, but by the Grace of God and True Parents, events progressed where his matching became a possibility. The amazing thing is that when I was praying about the matching in general I felt God say to me “Don’t you know that I chose Kenji for Sonya from birth?” I had always felt that Kenji was our blessing disguised as a cross (because it has not been easy) but in reality God chose it this way for the sake of Sonya and to make a way for all handicapped people in history. How great is our Heavenly Father!! We realize through this experience that God has someone for EVERYONE!

  37. ...As second generation, especially girls, you think you've been waiting so long to be matched, but when it happens, you realize that 18 years really isn't a long time. Our lives are just beginning. Il Hwa (Cindy) Yokpore For Il-hwa's part, she felt she was already matched. It was just a matter of finding out who. About 3 months after her 14th birthday she got the inspiration that her husband-to-be was somehow threatened. So for 12 months she did a condition to keep him safe. Every night, the last thing she did before she went to sleep was to bathe, do 15 full bows, and pray for her spouse's protection and for him to keep centered on the heart of God. Dee Yokpore

  38. Testimony from Yuji and Michiko Yokoyama By the beginning of this year, we came to realize that the process of finding a match is really spiritual and all spiritual elements have to be in total alignment centered on God for matching to be realized. My wife and I set up 21-day prayer condition about Misono's matching.  Around that time our daughter wanted to do a prayer condition for matching and blessing. She says that a lecturer's words during the STF blessing workshop, "True love is not about finding the right person; it's about being the right person" caused her to think about her attitude toward the matching. 

  39. Testimony by Rev. Chen Fong ...In the midst of 10,000 people at Chyung Pyung, Mrs. Watanabe and I kept running into each other. After the workshop in Korea, we continued to correspond and soon came to a conclusion that this was definitely heavenly intervention and God’s desire.  ... God worked through the complexity of the providences with our lives, crossing our destinies to make it one. We are grateful, pleased, and awed. 

  40. By John and Mary Gowey ... we would be clear about where we were in the process... help avoid misunderstandings or guess work which might jeopardize a good relationship.  ...each step would only be taken with every person's agreement and free will. THE PROCESS:    1. The parents would endorse the matching, including the process.    2. The children would agree to participate in the matching.    3. The children begin to interact and develop their relationship.    4. Mutual confirmation: Both parents and children would agree on the match.    5. Report to our central figures of our plans and decisions.    6. Matching: Gather in one place and officiate the matching.

  41. Testimony from Aye Jin Masuda ... A few years ago, Father suggested to have Blessed Children being matched as early as 10 years old. Actually, in Heavenly Father's heart, they were matched even before birth.... at conception when "He" created them, two by two. ...I read some of the testimonies on Jim's website: one point struck me there when I read that actually Heavenly Father is so much more anxious than we are to have Blessed Children being matched right. Testimony from Josef and Monique Derflinger, ...Kayo had once mentioned, “Who will want to be matched with me?” We reassured her, we had absolute faith in God, that some families can have spiritual experiences, “maybe someone WILL see light coming from your picture.” ...Three days later the Masuda family e-mailed us. When we read their request for our daughter, we cried. Three points became very clear: 1.   Have absolute faith in God. HE KNOWS. 2.   Husband and wife need to be united. 3.   Parents and child must be one. Josef and Monique Aye Jin....When the following day I went back to the web and still looked at ALL the photos, they were all in 2 D, but Kayo's photo was blinking, looking like a 3 dimensional photo.

  42. Testimony from Daniel's father, Peter Perry. ...I had been studying Tamara for some time, she "felt" like the right one. I asked my wife as she looked at the candidates who she "felt" good about. She also said Tamara.  We asked our 2 daughters on their feeling about the candidates and likewise came up with Tamara. ...As Gilbert shared in his testimony that he first e-mailed us on December 15, but, in fact we didn't receive it because they mis-typed the e-mail address. On December 18th I sent him my initial proposal so, I was surprised when he said to me in reply to my e-mail that he thanked me for responding to his (which I never got). It's amazing how God works!

  43. Testimony by Rob Sayre ...Sally and I made time to speak about Laurel, time that was not interrupted. The side benefit of this is that it is exactly what spouses need to do on a regular basis and benefits all relationships in the family.  ...So when I asked God, “Are these kids ready to be responsible for their finances, the answer was of course “No!”  “They are ready, however to taste First, True Love in a safe and guided process. That is YOUR JOB.” 

  44. Example of parents being 100% responsible Testimony from Kotun Kiely ... I realized that because True Parents gave the direction to my parents to choose my spouse, and not to me, that I should trust that Heavenly Father would work through my parents and guide them. I was convinced that if I told my parents how I felt about certain people, that would make it harder for them to be guided to the person Heavenly Father had prepared for me. After all, parents heart is to make their children happy, and if I expressed to them that I did not like someone, it would be hard for my parents to choose him, even if he were actually the right person for me.  By Michael Keily ...Because True Father had given us this direction, we did feel that if we invested wholeheartedly despite our limitations, we would receive the guidance and help we needed beyond those limitations to accomplish the task.  ... She insisted that we make the final choice and refused time and again to express her opinion or feelings about any potential spouse we discussed with her. She was adamant about not influencing the choice at all and determined, in this way, to fully follow True Father’s standard for the matching.

  45. Testimony from Michael Stewart ... It wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that I would choose to go to the Blessing. There was a time in high school where I became very skeptical of the church. While I never lost faith in True Parents and their message, I felt really hurt and confused by a lot of things in the church.  ...Regardless of my reasons, it led to a string of decisions and experiences that my life could have done without. I ended up having a girlfriend during the latter part of high school, not because I was actively seeking one but because I didn’t know what I wanted and really didn’t have a reason to say no when the opportunity came.  ...When I met Liz, I definitely felt something. I wish there was a better word to use than “something”.  It wasn’t the same as attraction (believe me, I would know). It was closer to the feeling you get when something important is happening. Like every part of you is waiting for something to happen.

  46. .. I realized that I had to create the deepest possible relationship with my parents; no more secrets.  I felt it would be very difficult for them (as wonderful as they are ?), to choose this man if they didn’t truly know me; EVERYTHING about me. My Matching Testimony by Mi-ae Schanker ... I realized 3 things:    1.) I did not want one bit of my matching to be out of my own selfishness.  I did not trust myself to choose my match – even if my parents asked me.  2.) I wanted and needed to take some responsibility for my matching.  I couldn’t just go about thinking that I wanted that “special guy” and expect things to just happen.  So I began to pray more deeply to Heavenly Father.  I began making conditions 3.) I wanted my matching to be from God and I told my parents: “I have absolute faith in whoever you choose, just don’t make any decisions until God tells you.” 

  47. Testimony from Robert Irwin ...Thousands of thoughts and feelings flooded my mind, but one question really stuck in my head: can I fulfill my responsibility? I felt so serious and excited at the same time. I know many BC's will feel the same when they get matched in the near future. I also felt a rush of gratitude and unworthiness towards my parents and God.

  48. A Time to Struggle. • Does each B.C. have ownership of the faith? • “I’m not really ready yet.” …Cold feet for boys. • All the First Generation were converts to Divine Principle, but Second Gens were born into the church and therefore at some point must decide in their own hearts to join the church and go this way. • Try to assure it takes place before the matching and not after. • Boys are confronted (maybe for the first time) with being a true subject i.e. having to take responsibility. • They are challenged with an eternal commitment. • They are challenged with an eternal responsibility for the lives of a wife and children.

  49. A Time to Struggle. • BC might compare their mate to their own parent, compare their self to their parent in the role of spouse, or compare to some unspoken expectations. They may struggle withtheir new “in-laws”. • Your child will likely begin to notice flaws in his/her match after the initial joy subsides. Prepare for it. Expectations of romance from movies may appear which were unknown before. The family is the “School of Love” so each one “loves” according to his/her family experience. Boys might compare their match to their mothers. Girls vice versa. “In-laws” become a big issue. Fantasies come out. • Spiritual attack will come - GUARANTEED. • We tend to forget about Satan, but Satan is still real. He hates Blessed Children and God’s lineage. He’ll use fallen nature and every doubt that arises as an opportunity to attack the match. Friends, neighbors, relatives, society, culture, school, etc. could all negatively influence.

More Related