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Marriage, The Fascinating Way
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By Helen Andelin, author of Fascinating Womanhood
November, 1999
What Makes Love Bloom?
What makes a man love a woman with a heartfelt, tender emotion? This kind of romantic love is awakened by the woman, by what she is, what she does and the way she makes him feel. Learning how to become this kind of woman is the whole objective of Fascinating Womanhood.
In Fascinating Womanhood you are first given a clear picture of The Ideal Woman From a Man's Point of View. This Ideal Woman consists of eight qualities - four angelic and four human. All eight are equally important and stress is put on the not overlooking any. And that leads up to the topic of this November Journal. I would like to focus on a quality often passed over - A Worthy Character.
A Worthy Character
Once in awhile a woman will say to me, "Well, Fascinating Womanhood didn't work for me. I tried it and it didn't work." That is always a clue to me that she is skipping over an important quality - character, for she lacked the humility to reflect on her own failures. Of course she was essentially a good woman but failed to understand the kind of character that awakens a man's worshipful feelings of love.
First, let's focus on a man's love for a woman. In FW we describe it as the highest kind of tender love and devotion a man can have for a woman. It is a holy feeling, and therefore she must be worthy of this feeling. She must have an angelic character that measures up to it.
What does a Worthy Character consist of? In FW I have described ten essential virtues of character: Self-discipline, Unselfishness, Charity, Humility, Responsibility, Diligence, Patience, Moral Courage, Honesty and Chastity.
Maintaining such high standards of character is not easy. When temptations tempt you to lower your standards, or even abandon them, you have to hold tight to them. You have to be willing to suffer deprivation, pain and sometimes humiliation. The German author, Goethe once said: "Talents are best nurtured in solitude but character is formed in the stormy billows of the world." So the woman who is determined to center her life around comfort, and to preserve that comfort at all costs is in question as far as her character is concerned.
And beware of the seven human weaknesses that even the most Godly women must continually work to overcome. They are laziness, selfishness, lack of self-discipline, cynicism, lack of dependability, greed and arrogance. Any one of these is enough to drive away love and destroy a marriage. A woman with a sharp tongue and a proud look hasn't much of a chance for love, even when her remarks are aimed at someone other than her husband.
In review, what does a woman's angelic character have to do with a man's love for her? It has everything to do with it. A man's tender feeling of love is a holy feeling and therefore she must be worthy of this feeling. She must have an angelic character that inspires this feeling.
Comments From Grateful Readers:
"What a blessing Fascinating Womanhood is! Every woman I know who has read it has been moved and changed. Thank you so much for obeying God's calling and sharing this insight with all of us. May your ministry continue to grow and prosper." - Temple, Texas
"Your book is helping me reclaim my "little girl" hopes from the ashes of present day cynicism. Thank you for inspiring women everywhere to revisit childhood dreams of living "happily ever after." In Fascinating Womanhood you've provided us with the tools to make those dreams come true."
"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing Fascinating Womanhood. I have a long way to go but I have hopes that I can improve myself. I am married to a wonderful man and have two small boys and I want so much to be the wife and mother they deserve. May God richly bless you." S
Pen Pals:
The following would like to request a mail pen pal:
"I would love an mail partner. Thank you, Tin."
Address: tlmcint@aol.com
"I would like to obtain a pen pal from the Fascinating Womanhood home page. My details are below. Thank you, Rebekah, Queensland, Australia."
Address: Andrew.Bek@bigpond.com
Let's hope these two get together.
Note: In the future please state which country or state you are from, marital status, and if you are seeking a male or female partner.