Our Mission:

We exist to encourage and equip people to love living their Divine Destiny.

We help establish and renew commitments to the two most precious and irreplaceable gifts in life: People and Relationships.

Joan and Mark Endicott

MARRIAGE AMBASSADOR AWARD
Healthy Families Network

“I Get To!”® Be “Faithful To You!” Chapter Excerpt

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” —Billy Graham

The myth of the greener grass is there for everyone everywhere to either be duped into believing and buy into literally or see it for what it truly is: an illusion (aka: fantasy, figment of your imagination). The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. It’s greenest when it’s watered, mowed and fertilized regularly. In 2000¸ Mark and I had been married 20 years and were right in the midst of a three-year period of heartbreaking events with numerous couples we knew who were experiencing varying degrees of difficulties in their marriages, from separations to abandonment and divorce issues, most of which were rooted in addictions of all kinds, from pornography to drugs…you name it, we saw it. There was one wave right after another. We were riding an emotional roller coaster with the news of each one: shock, anger, sadness, devastation, hurt—you name it, we felt it. It seemed like we were still in the aftershock of one when the next wave would hit. I was heartbroken for everyone whose lives were falling apart, particularly those blindsided by it all—especially the children. As a child I knew what it was like to live in a home of insecurity and uncertainty, so my heart broke for these little ones. In the midst of this, as Mark and I were corresponding through email one day, he could hear my discouragement and feelings of helplessness at being unable to stop the bleeding for those we cared for. I felt like all I had were questions, no answers. I ached for everyone who would be affected by some of the selfish choices made. (In every case, the compromise made was never worth the price it demanded—ever!) The email he sent back was reassuring as always, and reminded me that we can only do what we can do and trust God for the rest. He signed the email in a way he never had before, with three of the most beautiful and powerful words I’ve ever read:

Faithful to you! Mark

He had no idea, nor did I, the impact his reassurance of faithfulness would hold for me. Sitting in our office by myself, staring at my computer, I re-read, absorbed and savored those three words…and wept. Even when there’s no question of another’s love and faithfulness, the value and comfort of the reminder is indescribable! I wonder how things might change if everyone chose to look at honoring their word and keeping their vows and commitments as a privilege and opportunity rather than a burden they must bear—something they have to do. Instead:

“I Get To!” be “Faithful to You!”

I guarantee this one thing can transform a person’s thinking toward all relationships, when we simply choose to start off each day by reminding ourselves, “I Get To!”…be faithful to: (e.g. God is first on my list) my spouse, children and loved ones, as well as all our professional commitments. When we flip that mental switch and embrace these as opportunities rather than obstacles, we are changed, renewed and empowered from the inside out. Just like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, we can experience a new appreciation, enthusiasm and devotion, being fully engaged and enjoying the time and energy we get to invest in the most important relationships in our lives. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” —Martin Luther King Jr. As I previously mentioned, I’ve met thousands who regret lowering their standards—even momentarily. On the other hand, I’ve never met anyone who regrets maintaining too high of a standard.