the more important mental and spiritual qualifications. If a person is serious about his serving his Maker, Jehovah God, then he should make certain that the person he is contemplating to take as his life partner is just as serious about serving Jehovah God. In particular should a Christian not consider for a moment getting emotionally involved with a nonbeliever, however romantic and charming that one might appear to be. Plainly the inspired apostle Paul commands: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.” Marry “only in the Lord.”​—2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Cor. 7:39.

Listening to the Word of God will spare you the disillusionments, the disappointments, the frustrations that so often result from romantic love. It helps us to understand that romantic love is not to be viewed as the supreme bliss for human creatures. More than that, it also shows that marriage is bound to bring with it trials and problems. Tempering youth’s idealism and enthusiasm for marital bliss are the sobering words of the apostle Paul that those who marry “will have tribulation in their flesh.” (1 Cor. 7:28) A keen observer of human nature once said: “Someone is responsible for foisting on our world the fantastic notion that marriage is easy.”

Romantic love can be something beautiful and may be the door to a happy marriage. But unless it is accompanied with reason, self-control and good judgment, it is far more likely to be the door to unhappiness. It might therefore be said that even without romantic love, such qualities as reason, self-control and good judgment are more likely to result in happiness than is romantic love without these substantial virtues. So do not overrate romantic love. It may not be the door to happy marriage, and it certainly is not the only door to happiness in marriage.

Appreciation for Bible Training by Parents

A YOUNG witness of Jehovah in Elwood, Indiana, greatly appreciated the Bible training she got from her parents. She tells why:

“When I was five years old, my parents began to study the Bible with me. At first I enjoyed it very much. But when I reached my early teens I began developing a rebellious attitude. For example, during the meetings at the Kingdom Hall I would sit with other children, look at the ceiling, pass notes and whisper. At this point my parents had me sit with them. Also they never gave up our family Bible study. Even though I would arrange other activities on the night of our study, they would always reschedule it so that our Bible study was held weekly.

“My parents zealously taught me the Bible’s basic truths in firmness and with love. In time they saw me outgrow my rebellious attitude and begin to show appreciation for Jehovah’s goodness. Today I am seventeen years old and I spend as much time as possible preaching Jehovah’s good news. I look forward to a life as a full-time preacher. All this because of my parents’ patient and loving training.

“I hope and pray that Jehovah God will forget my rebellious years. During all that time I knew deep down within me that my parents were right. So I would like to encourage all parents to continue their family Bible study with their children under all conditions, especially during rebellious years. This is when children need their parents most. Then one day they will hear their children say, ‘I am so thankful that my family regularly had a Bible study with me!’”