Category Archives: Love and Marriage

Does a Marriage Ever “End?”

Posted on January 9, 2016 by hessd

I have had occasions where I felt I needed to explain what kind of a married man I am/was. Here is the distinction I chose: I am romantic, but I am not sentimental. When I read Lucy Kalanithi’s account in … Continue reading →

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Women Who Love Too Much

Posted on August 3, 2015 by hessd

In 1985, Robin Norwood wrote a book called Women Who Love Too Much. My immediate response was, “Oh dear. She’s redefining what love means.” I haven’t read the book, but I still dislike the title. Is it really possible to … Continue reading →

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Gladly Teach and Gladly Learn

Posted on February 26, 2015 by hessd

Let’s say you are young and idealistic and haven’t been married even once. Please accept my sincere congratulations and condolences. You have emotional heights before you that I can remember only with disciplined memory. A dark and quiet room would … Continue reading →

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The Courtship Marriage

Posted on October 26, 2014 by hessd

This starts with a really simple premise.  I begin by rejecting “forever answers.”[1]  He says, “Will you marry me?” meaning, “Will you love me forever?”  She says “Yes.” Meaning “Yes, I will love you forever.”  (I know that’s the truth … Continue reading →

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A Whole New You

Posted on August 31, 2014 by hessd

There is always the chance that you are not going to believe what I am going to say today.  Or, if you are younger (nearly everyone is) than I am and more tech savvy (nearly everyone is), you might just … Continue reading →

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Wanting What You Can Have

Posted on June 7, 2014 by hessd

My old friend Tony and I get together at the Cadillac Café every now and then just to keep up on what’s going on.  The last time we were together, he passed on a saying that was current in his … Continue reading →

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Permanent Love

Posted on March 14, 2014 by hessd

I grew up hearing my mother tell a causal attribution joke.  That isn’t what she called it, but that’s what it is and that’s why I telling you about it.  As she was growing up, both “bums” and “limburger cheese” … Continue reading →

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Orthopathy. Really.

Posted on February 11, 2014 by hessd

On November 16, 2008, Jason Walter, a first year student at the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, led a discussion on Louis Berkhof’s Summary of Christian Doctrine.  I had never heard of Jason or of the Institute of Reformed Baptist … Continue reading →

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Valentine’s Day 2014

Posted on February 9, 2014 by hessd

I do love Valentine’s Day.  It has taken me awhile to get there, but I am there now. I started having trouble with Valentine’s Day in elementary school.  It was our practice that everyone was to get valentines from everyone … Continue reading →

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Borrowing Bette

Posted on July 6, 2013 by hessd

Every metaphor you can think of is deficient in some respect and, regrettably,  that includes the metaphor I am going to use today.  I am going to treat the opportunity I have of living my life with Bette by the … Continue reading →

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