These are just a few typical reactions upon hearing that someone has become engaged to be married.

Engagement is an exciting time as promises are made to become man and wife, but it is an important time as well. It is a period of time for couples to work out many issues in preparation for saying "I do" and planning to spend the remainder of their lives together. Christians are reminded that promises are not to be taken lightly; engagement is a promise to marry.

Here are some points to consider in the time leading to engagement:

• Know yourself.
• Prepare yourself spiritually, financially, physically, educationally and socially.
• Date (or spend time with) a variety of different personality types.
• Determine in your mind what kind of person attracts you.
• Determine in your mind what kind of person would make a good mate and parent.
• Date those who most closely match your mental image of the "ideal mate."
• Eliminate those from your list who do not check out for you.
• Focus on a few before determining just one.
• Discover if that person has an interest in you in the same way.
• Seek input from those you trust—parents, friends, ministers.
• Date exclusively and have a variety of dating experiences, but always honorably.
• Get to know each other under various circumstances.
• If both of you agree that it is time to move forward, seek premarital counsel.
• If all is well in the counseling sessions, then move towards engagement.

Engagement is a commitment to another person to be his or her lifetime partner. It should be entered with much thought, prayer and counsel. Marriage is an awesome experience that God calls honorable (Hebrews 13:4). After all, He invented marriage in the beginning (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-24). So, may your road to engagement and marriage be exciting and wonderful and bring honor to each other, your families and most importantly, the Inventor of marriage, God! UN