“And they lived happily ever after. The End”
By Donna Savaki Isn’t that the way the lovely new bride and her bridegroom prince begin and end their wonderful life together? Just where was John and Stasi Eldredge’s new book, Love and War, when I was a blushing new bride in 1977? No one was there to tell me, “Marriage is fabulously hard.” And it really is hard. Very hard. Somehow marriage meshes two wounded, imperfect people into one. Maybe that is why my first marriage ended in divorce. We did not understand the spiritual battle that was being played out in our lives and our marriage.
In Love and War John and Stasi Eldredge share the difficulties and joys of their own marriage of 25 years. As I read about their God-ordained partnership, I felt as if I were sitting with the Eldredges in their cozy living room as they spoke of the great mystery unfolding in God’s plan for marriage John and Stasi vulnerably reveal hurts, mistakes, romantic moments and loving caring so that others will benefit.
Love and War begins with material covered in previous Eldredge books (Wild At Heart, Captivating, Waking the Dead). If your heart and mind were challenged by these books, then your concept of the marriage union is now about to be enlarged and challenged.
Reading this Love and War helped me understand God’s true intentions for marriage. After being remarried over five years ago, I discovered needed perspectives on the epic battle being played out on my new marriage. I highlighted passages, read pages aloud to my husband, and called my daughter to proclaim how much I was learning from John and Stasi. If you are planning to marry, are married, or have been married, if your marriage is in a happy place or if you feel like divorce is the only answer, if you care about the marriages of your friends, if you want a God-view of marriage, then you must read Love and War. It will speak to your heart and change your perspective on marriage–this “Great Affair” into which God tells the love story of His own heart.
Donna Savaki is a retired teacher (over 30 years of teaching kindergarteners was enough). She has one daughter, Amy, who is the head honcho of Backseat Writer. She lives with her husband and two dogs, Katie and Clifford, in Pennsylvania.
She is Beloved 
I just recently saw this book advertised, and since I was so inspired by both Wild at Heart and Captivating, I’m looking forward to adding this one to the collection. (Too bad dear hubby won’t read this and get the hint for a Valentine’s Day gift.) Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and challenging us to take our marriages seriously enough to stick things out through love AND war. God bless! 🙂
I’m sold. We’re reading Epic now in our small group. I think I’ll nominate this for our next topic.
Believe me, you will not be sorry purchasing and reading this book. I cannot stop talking about it to my friends. I find myself in situations every day in which these book impacts my marriage and the choices I make. The truth in this book hits my heart and my mind.