Dating with direction

Dating is not just about having a good time. It serves to get to know each other, grow, and discern whether there can be a stable commitment oriented toward marriage. That is why it is good to look beyond intensity: how you argue, how you pray, how you treat others, what place God has, and if together you are better people. Emotion matters, but it is not enough. Loving well means treating the other as a person, not as someone I use to be comfortable, receive approval, or vent what I carry inside. Affection is needed, yes, but also prudence: knowing when to speak, when to be silent, when to correct, and when to accompany.