Matchmaker Matchmaker

I had a mother say to me, if a mother's place is in the home, how come I spend so much

time in the car?

Thanks for joining us today.

You're listening to Lafagan with Phil Calloway.

When I was a teenager, I believed that arranged marriages were a horrible idea, like racing

through London in the right-hand lane.

But when our children were teenagers, I began to see the benefits.

In time, you will grow to love her.

I told my sons, while thumbing through random pictures I clipped from my high school yearbook,

a beautiful wife is not for you.

But one of these gals will be grateful for your affection.

Besides, cat eye glasses will be all the rage in three or four years.

When our children were young, my wife and I began watching and praying for suitable mates

for them.

We even took to carrying pictures of them in my wallet, primarily to barter with other

parents.

Many were eager to participate in dowry negotiations, and with the average Hollywood

marriage lasting about 37 seconds, we decided to start an organization called Arranged Marriages

Work Awesome, Amwa.

Our slogan was, Save Money, Your Honeymoon Condouble as your first date.

Here were a few of our credos.

One, why should marriage be based solely on love and respect when we can get some cattle

in the deal?

Number two, my son thinks tacos are a food group.

How could he possibly choose his own wife?

Number three, you'll always have a story to tell at family reunions and on talk shows.

While a senior in college, David Winelich joked to friends that he would be married on June

13 of 1998.

He had a tux in a ring.

The only thing missing was a fiance.

So one week before the big day, he and his buddies launched the campaign to elect Mrs.

David Winelich, attracting worldwide attention and 28 would be brides to the Mall of America

in Minnesota, where friends and family overwhelmingly selected Elizabeth Runs.

The couple's first kiss was at the altar.

Though they went into marriage knowing very little about each other, David felt that romantic

love was a tad overrated.

Marriage really ought to be more about committing to being together than it is about how you feel

at a given moment, he said.

We're committed.

A few days after their much publicized marriage, David told Elizabeth, wow, I don't mean

to freak you out, but I think I love you.

The couple had three children and almost 20 years of marriage when David passed away

in 2018 from colon cancer.

His legacy is one of commitment.

How badly we need it today.

One of the keys is community too.

In Angola, newlyweds are assigned Padrinos, mentoring couples who will be in their lives

for as long as the four shall live.

Here are a few keys to a fantastic marriage.

First, Ephesians 4.26 says, don't let the sun go down while you're still angry.

Stay up and fight.

Okay, I added the last four words.

Second, Romans 13.8 says, oh, nothing to anyone.

Money trouble cripples many marriages.

If you're in debt, plan and work your way out.

Number three, Proverbs 4.23 says, guard your heart above all else.

For it determines the course of your life.

Just remember who we made a promise to love, even when times are difficult.

I decided not to force my children into anything, but we practiced arranged introductions, dropped

subtle hints, invited certain families over and took out ads in the newspaper.

Jenny Sanderson, we think you'd make a great wife for our son.

Have your parents call this number.

It went so well that we're thinking of practicing arranged weddings for our grandchildren, complete

with potluck, A to E bring salad, F to M bring wedding cake.

The first is getting married June 13, 2034 at the Mall of America.

Please mail all applications to our address here in Taktoyak Takt, where my children have

locked me in a little cabin.

When life squeezes you empty and you don't know where to turn, prayer is where hope begins.

That's why laugh again is offering, praying with the saints.

A small book of thirty prayers gathered from across the centuries.

These were ordinary people just like you and me.

They struggled, they believed, they prayed.

Let their words become yours.

Request your free copy today at laughagain.ca.

Laugh again, true bringing laughter to life.