LAWA‘I — Most people preparing for their 25th, or silver, wedding anniversary are planning an elaborate party. Most people, probably, aren’t like Lynn and Tim Mira of Lawa‘i. In celebration of their silver wedding anniversary next month, they are giving
LAWA‘I — Most people preparing for their 25th, or silver, wedding anniversary are planning an elaborate party.
Most people, probably, aren’t like Lynn and Tim Mira of Lawa‘i.
In celebration of their silver wedding anniversary next month, they are giving out gifts themselves, in the form of free “Love and Respect” classes that start at 7 p.m. today at Kaua‘i Bible Church in ‘Oma‘o.
The church is mauka of Kaumuali‘i Highway at mile marker 9.
The class meets each Tuesday through July 28, which is their 25th anniversary date.
According to the Miras, they have been blessed on the winding, hilly road of wedlock, and wanted “to give back to the community in some way” so they decided to offer free classes to help relationships between men and women.
The idea behind the classes is to “encourage and empower man and woman relationships, not only married people, but in any situation where a man and woman have to interact,” and “to indirectly help address some real and current family issues of dealing with present economic situations,” she said.
For example, men of the house losing jobs may be experiencing feelings of loss of respect, and women might not realize men’s basic and principle need of feeling respected, which they might need more than love, she said.
The classes usually cost $30 to $50 per person on the Mainland, she said.
“We’re going to have a small celebration with everyone who attended the classes on the last day, maybe renew our vows, maybe have others renew their vows with us, or even celebrate some weddings,” she said.
So moved by their attendance at an earlier Love and Respect session were Cheryl and Steve Farrell of Po‘ipu, that they decided also to get married on the final night of an earlier session.
“We’ve been through all kinds of stuff in our 25 years, me almost dying, then not being able to work for almost 10 years, while raising a 2- and 4-year old, Tim trying to work around taking care of me and the kids,” Lynn Mira said.
“It’s been tough, but God has been faithful and has provided for us by sending caring people of Kaua‘i, especially our family, to help us through,” she said.
“And now, our two boys, Cory and Kyle, are in college, they don’t even remember our struggles, and Tim is enjoying being (a) Realtor with Makai Properties, LLC, and I own QBKaua‘i, which is a QuickBooks bookkeeping company,” she said.
“It’s a(n) easy-to-relate-to, humorous, practical approach to improving relationships,” she said of the class, adding that a small group of Kauaians went through the Love and Respect class as a study, and at the end of the study all decided to renew their vows.
The course bases the relationship between a man and a woman on the principles stated in Ephesians 5:33: “A man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
Some people have expressed interest, but don’t necessarily want to commit to the eight-week, DVD-based course, she said. “I say just come check it out the first night and see if you like it,” she said.
“If you do, we’ll see you next Tuesday, and if you don’t, we won’t see you next Tuesday, no problem.”
Those with baby-sitting issues should call the Miras, and they will see if something can be worked out, she said. “We don’t want that to be the reason you cannot attend.”
All those 16 years and older are invited, whether single, married, engaged, divorced, separated or living together, she said.
For more information, call 332-7406.
To view video testimonials, conference excerpts and more information on the seminar, see www.loveandrespect.com.
