The Courtship

You've decided that you're ready for the next step in dating; a courtship. How should you start it? What does it look like? What questions can you bring up, during this time of discernment to help you?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you care profoundly about her -- do you love her?

• Are you willing to commit to the responsibility, time, and care it takes to move forward in a courtship?

• Can you both communicate respectfully and effectively?

• Do you accept her as she is, as she accepts you as you are?

You should be answering yes, to ALL of these questions if you're interested in moving forward with courting a girl. She should be asking herself these questions too. It's a mutual commitment, so you should both be on the same page.

Timeline

I don't think there is a perfect length of time it takes to discern this commitment, however, I suggest giving yourself enough time to let the relationship develop, in the dating stage. The honeymoon phase, usually lasting from the first 6 months to 2 years, is a period where the couple's dating experiences are fun, enjoyable, and everything seems perfect. Both parties are enjoying themselves, getting to know their partners, and having fun dating. Its a great place to be. But you should understand that just because you're having a great time, especially during the honeymoon stage, that things aren't always going to be this awesome. Hate to break it to you bud, but life doesn't work that way. You're going to want a girl that's going to sit in your corner, supporting you, looking after you, and willing to commit to you -- especially when the going gets tough.

If you've been dating her exclusively for 2-3 years, it would be a good time to entertain the thought of, "what's next?". Take your time, dating her, and really getting to know her, before you actually commit to the courtship.

EDITING IN PROGRESS