Have you ever thought about having a relationship with a person outside your religion or faith? The benefits are tremendous. It not only allows you to have the decorations you always wanted for the holiday season, but it can bring many new opportunities to your life spiritually and emotionally. First, it will open your mind to see a whole new way of thinking. Second, it will open your heart. Third, it will lead you to forward-thinking positions while learning parallel ways to build a firm foundation and partnership.

I have. I am Jewish, and in 1989 I married the love of my life. He is Catholic.

Day by day, since we wed, we have had our shared moments. However, we together have learned and shared techniques from our different backgrounds and differences. We learned throughout the years that, even though we were brought up differently, we had a bond. Second languages. Similarities. And deep beliefs. We also had an unbreakable commitment. We found that no matter what the circumstances, we could find our way through. Each of our experiences, no matter how painful, led us back home, into each other’s arms with a love that grows ever stronger. We learned from our parents and siblings that we could bend and tweak our thoughts. We could amend them to come up with a compromise.

I write to you about a season where we need to look beyond. To work with our patterns, our mates, our better halves. Or however you describe yourselves together. Life is fragile. You never know what’s down the road or around the bend. Together is much better than apart. Together, loving and caring for each other, rather than a ring, a coat, or an expensive gift. The gift is each other. The gift is loving each other when you can’t look at him because you are so angry. The gift is learning to live in peace and harmony despite each other’s peccadilloes.

I think anything is possible if you learn to love unconditionally in all areas of your life. Then you can even have a Christmas tree, decorate it anyway you like, and have your menorah and dreidel, too!

I think the way I do because I am not a quitter. In my family, I was taught not to give up on myself and especially not on your man or wife. I was taught to communicate. I was taught to work things through. My husband did not learn some of those skills. Although, for the duration of our marriage, and because of our indoctrination, we carried and conveyed new ways and concepts of looking at things we were going through.

I hope you had a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and more recently a lovely Valentine’s Day. Dress your spirit in unconditional love and forgiveness. Have an open heart. Each smile can fill the heart of any relationship and give you a whole new perspective. Reinvent yourself. Become a better partner. Build a better, more unique foundation for yourself. Wish for things that could very well happen. Consider the impossible: whisper in a way that is so subtle that even a cat can’t hear you.

Have you ever thought about this topic? It takes hard work, commitment, and determination. If I can do this, believe me, anyone can.

Text ©2026 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. Image from Karen Lynn-Chlup’s private collection. All rights reserved.