Should We Break Up?
Sometimes a breakup is a blessing. Consider the experience of Jill. âAt first,â she says, âI was flattered that my boyfriend was always worrying about where I was, what I was doing, and whom I was with. But it got to the point where I couldnât spend time with anyone but him. He even got jealous when I spent time with my familyââespecially my father. When I ended the relationship with my boyfriend, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders!â
 Sarah had a similar experience. She began to notice that John, the young man she was dating, was sarcastic, demanding, and rude. âOne time,â Sarah recalls, âhe came to the door three hours late! He ignored my mother when she answered the door, and then he said: âLetâs go. Weâre late.â Not âIâm late,â but âWeâre late.â He should have apologized or explained himself. Most of all, he should have shown my mother respect!â
 Of course, a single disappointing act or trait doesnât necessarily doom a relationship.  But when Sarah realized that Johnâs rudeness was a pattern rather than an isolated incident, she decided to end the relationship.
 What if, like Jill and Sarah, you determine that the person youâre dating wouldnât make a suitable marriage partner? In that case, do not ignore your feelings! Hard as it is to accept, it might be best to end the relationship. Proverbs 22:3 says: âShrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself.â
 True, breaking up may not be easy. But marriage is a permanent bond. Itâs better to live with short-term pain now than suffer with lifelong regret later!
