The Honeymoon Experience

Devotional Content:

We all have a “honeymoon story.” I have yet to talk to a couple that says their honeymoon met every expectation. For one, after the hectic days leading up to—and including—their wedding day, most couples are exhausted by the time the honeymoon arrives. I have known couples that told me later that they were even too tired to make love on their wedding night and felt they had committed some sin by not doing so.  Others talk of fighting on their honeymoon. Or of one person getting injured or sick.  Expectations were either damaged or destroyed and they look back at their honeymoon with unmet expectations.

When I talk to premarital couples, I stress the importance of realistic expectations for the honeymoon. Unfortunately, most of us were not told that and did not keep our expectations realistic. In the video, I share part of our honeymoon story. At the time we were disappointed. Things went off script. But as we look back, we are able to see what God taught us during that time. God has a way of always bringing good out of what seem like bad things.  

We learned to be more flexible. Now when things don’t go as we would like, we roll with it more easily, and look for what God has for us. We learned to talk more about our expectations and to keep them realistic. This has been a huge help for us. When Nancy was sick on our honeymoon, we learned that we were now dependent on each other in a new way. I was the one who had to figure out how to help her. We were in Mexico and her mom was lots of miles away. The task fell on me. Nancy had to trust that I would—and could—take care of her. She had never really seen me in that role without a backup close at hand. The really cool thing was that, as a result, our marriage took a huge growth step that never would have happened if our expectations had been met in the way we wanted. It’s funny that looking back now, I would not change a thing!

Today’s Challenge: 

Share the expectations you had going into your honeymoon. Were they realistic or not? 

Going Deeper:

1. Share with each other the positives of your honeymoon experience.

2. What were some obstacles you had to deal with on your honeymoon?

3. How did your honeymoon affect your sex life the first year of marriage?

4. What did you learn about your spouse that has been helpful in growing your sexual relationship in marriage?