For the first article in this series we’re going to take a look at the movie titled, “Fireproof,” by Sherwood Pictures. They are also the creators of the movie “Facing the Giants.”

From the Fireproof’s official website: At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter…just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being “good enough” for her husband.

Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.

As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb’s father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: “The Love Dare.” Wondering if it’s even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father’s sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book’s daily challenges are tied into his parents’ newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened.

While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, “How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?”

When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And with God’s help he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife.

But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever…rescuing his wife’s heart.

My husband and I chose to watch the movie together. So one night we sat down with some popcorn to view this “much talked about” movie. We quickly discovered it was not the typical “popcorn” movie.

I found myself laughing a few times especially when Caleb takes his anger out on the garbage can with a baseball bat and his neighbor witnesses it.

I also found myself shedding a few tears and I think my husband did as well, especially when Caleb asked his father, “How is he supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects him?” and his father’s answer was like, “duh!” That was when the picture of Jesus being the bridegroom and we are the bride and how the relationship we have with him is like a marriage was made more real to me than it had ever been.

The whole movie not only made me want to improve my relationship with my husband but also my relationship with Jesus.

Along with the movie, most bookstores are selling the “Love Dare Devotional” Book. This is the same principal as the one that Caleb’s father gave him and “dared” him to use it to improve his relationship with his wife. My husband and I chose to do the 40 days of devotions together, more as a study as there was a lot of additional reading on love and relationships.

In the movie, one person did the dare while the other person was not aware of what or why he or she was doing it. Doing the dares together with my husband was actually more challenging as we committed in the beginning to not spend any money doing the dares. Plus since you knew the partner was also doing the same dare, it was interesting to see how different our dares could be.

Not to reveal the end of the movie or the end of the devotional but on on day 40, the dare is to renew your wedding vows. And Lou and I have committed to do so as well. Actully I’ve wanted to do this for 2 years when we hit the big “25” years but Lou didn’t get the hint. I guess it took this movie and devotion to realize I can’t expect him to read my mind.

I think renewing our vows will become a yearly tradition, not necessarily with the whole “pomp and circumstances” of doing with a church and guests but just the vows between us as husband and wife. It’s no different than taking a shower each day to wash off the dirt you might acquire going through the previous day. We can gain “dirt” in our marriage as well and renewing the vows will refresh our marriage every year.

In my opinion, THUMBS UP! This is a movie all married people should watch, not just those going through tough times, but even those that have happy marriages. This movie should also be a requirement for premarital couples as well. I may even start giving it as a wedding/shower gift.

If you have watched the movie and want to make a comment, visit our website at
www.readthewell.com or write to the editor. We may print your comment in the next issue.

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