Arranged Marriages

This is going to sound super weird, but think about your parents. Think about how well they know you, and think about what they want for you. Also think about what they believe about God and about their purpose in life and your purpose in life. Think about what kind of guy or girl they would choose for you if it was their job. This doesn't apply to you if you have parents who aren't involved in your life or don't share your faith. Well, mine do. They love me, they know what kind of person of I am, and they have even higher standards of living than I do. They know what kind of guy I would need: A decent-looking, good man who loves the Lord and feels called to the mission field. He would also need to be compatible with my personality. To be completely honest, because my parents are who they are, I wouldn't mind an arranged marriage. And I know this sounds completely crazy, like who wouldn't want to choose their own husband? I want to find someone with whom I can spend the rest of my life glorifying God and telling others about Jesus. I feel like God would bless my marriage no matter who chose the man, me or my parents. And marriage doesn't have to have feelings of love to start it. Love and romance can grow. Respect, honor, and purpose, and enjoying each other's company are required. Which is why there would have to be some period of courtship. I wouldn't want to show up at my wedding never having met my groom. But my parents wouldn't agree to that, so I have nothing to worry about. Not that my parents would agree to an arranged marriage either; they've already told me they want me to pick my own husband. I know this is a totally foreign concept, but seriously, in India, there are debates about love marriages versus arranged marriages EVERY day, especially among Christians. I know that's a totally different culture, which is why my acceptance of that aspect helps confirm my calling to be a missionary. Joy, how does that have anything to do with your calling in life, you ask? Well, I think that being a missionary involves a spiritual gift. You have to have been given an ability to learn languages, a desire to reach people for Christ, and ease in adapting into any culture. I guess those aren't requirements, but I do have all 3 of those. I'm kingdom minded, I love languages, and I'm open-minded and willing to adapt to any culture. Mind you, I said culture not religion. Well, I have to go now, but that's just something I was thinking about. If you have comments or questions, feel free to let me know.