Tag Archives: commitment

On This Date 40 Years Ago

Posted on September 15, 2025 by mitchteemley

On September 15, 1985, I married the woman who would change my life forever. Oh, I’d been in love a few times before, only to have the ooey-gooey feelings fade away. And by now I was a commitment-shy bachelor. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 240 Comments

Real Fatherhood

Posted on April 8, 2024 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week During self-introductions a college student of mine once boasted that he’d fathered 11 children by 11 different women. I normally avoid judgmental statements. Not this time. “Do you support them?” I asked. “Uh, no!” he said … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

Monogamy Is Not Natural!

Posted on January 11, 2024 by mitchteemley

“Friends say to me a lot, ‘Monogamy is not natural.’ And I always, say, ‘Well, neither are toilets, but when you don’t use them, things get very messy.’” ~Andrew Gurland My wife and I are known for having a strong … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 54 Comments

38 Years Ago Today

Posted on September 14, 2023 by mitchteemley

On September 15, 1985, I married the most complicated, beautiful, insightful, godly, challenging woman I’ve ever met. Oh, yeah, and she also happened to be my best friend. Years later, I wrote a 1950s-style throwback song about her (think Buddy … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 182 Comments

Love Is Irrational

Posted on May 31, 2023 by mitchteemley

My Featured Blogger this week is Don White of Walking the Path. I know little about Don except that I like him. I mean, a lot. Oh, and although age and experience don’t necessarily guarantee wisdom, they’ve most definitely produced … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Has Your Life Blown Off Course?

Posted on February 23, 2023 by mitchteemley

I recently wrote about a friend who’d left his marriage and begun divorce proceedings. I urged him to rethink his decision, to break the cyclical infatuation/divorce pattern that is his family’s multigenerational legacy. But he chose instead to perpetuate it. … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 70 Comments

The “I Love You” Game

Posted on February 16, 2023 by mitchteemley

I have a friend who’s unhappy in his marriage and is thinking of leaving. This is the conversation I hope to have with him. “What should I do?” he asks, not really wanting to hear the answer. “Put it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 71 Comments

Our Unnatural Love

Posted on March 3, 2022 by mitchteemley

It’s my wife Trudy’s birthday. We celebrated with dinner and a concert last night and will continue celebrating this weekend. And then, two weeks from now, we’ll celebrate our engagement anniversary—the day we chose to do something completely unnatural, to … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 71 Comments

Beyond Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 17, 2022 by mitchteemley

Soulmate (noun): Someone you’re “made for” and don’t have to work at loving. Someone you choose to continue loving every day. Love is a choice we keep on making.

Posted in Humor, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Commitment Takes Courage

Posted on August 23, 2021 by mitchteemley

Photo by Andre Gaulin “Have you ever committed yourself to something without realizing it would permanently alter the course of your life?” ~The Wishing Map Thought for the Week Planning is making a list of ‘Things to do at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments