For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
I am not sure pre marriage council does any good. If the man is committed to his wife, and the wife is committed to her husband it will work. But if one is not, it makes no difference what you do, it will not work.
Having been married to the same person who introduces me as her lucky husband, for almost 60 years, I have some experience. We have stayed faithful to each other since we said our vows. But it is a daily thing. We grow together over time. Trials and tribulation brings us closer together, or tears us apart.
I was 18 and she was 17 when we married. We had dated for 4 years. We have not been able to live without each other. We can not stand to be apart.
Maybe we are just so blessed. God has been faithful to us. Jesus never fails. But we do. If we always look for the good in our mate we will find it. If we are always looking to criticize every little thing they do, expect it in return. If you do not love that person with all your heart when you marry, it probably will not last. Love overcomes all other obstacles.
Danny Hickman
I agree James.
Counseling is for people who aren't sure they want to get married, in my opinion. My parents were married for over sixty years. It ended when my father passed away in 2012. All the counseling my two brothers and I needed was witnessing how they persevered over the years.
Faye and I celebrated forty five years of marriage a few days ago. It's like you stated; If two people don't really love each other the marriage is doomed from the start. If they do they couldn't dream of letting silly differences cause them to hurt each other, or to be apart.
It's no secret to how to be pleasing to a woman.. Be a man... and treat her like a lady...