Our car insurance premium is due this week. The total always makes me choke a little, although when you divide it by the number of cars and drivers and months is seems reasonable.  Sort of like a time share you never go to.

 

I haven't met our agent though he has earned my respect over the years. Our kids have crashed half a dozen cars, but thankfully not been hurt. The policy itself is several pages long, with a complex list of potential features such as rental insurance, towing, and bodily injury. Each one is figured into the total, based I suppose on research. 

 

In the event of a serious accident it would be an enormous relief to have it. Honestly I never look at it between renewals. But if things go awry I will dig it up pronto. 

 

A friend and I spoke on the phone and she tearfully asked me to pray for her. Their marriage is deteriorating, and she has little besides her sheer will to keep going. She described the erosion of the past year, and what she regrets. They have children, and grandchildren whom they both cherish, and she wants very much to hold their family together. But she has made mistakes.

 

I wonder what would happen if we had an actual strategy for when relationships crash. I can't say that I ever composed one. People do come find me when they are scared or confused, and I have a list of websites, books and DVDs that help. But a preemptive plan? 

 

What if there was marriage insurance? Suppose a couple set aside a premium each year in an account for when their commitment goes off the rails. It could be for a cruise, or a weekend intensive. Babysitting on Friday nights while they watch marriage friendly movies. They could flesh out a document discussing points like counseling, or a marriage group. Reduced rates if they meet regularly with a mentor couple. There is a story that went viral about a woman whose husband wanted a divorce and all she asked was that he carry her over the threshold every day for a month. Which he did. And in that small act fell back in love with her.

 

There could be savings for weekly dates, and a hike in price if one of the partners travels frequently for work. Praying together and for one another regularly could be another way to lower the cost, because research has shown it to be effective. I heard the scientists speak at a conference. It made me cry.

 

And pray.