“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ― Benjamin Franklin

It was a beautiful early spring day.  The robins were singing, the cottonwoods were budding, and Jeff was strolling on a trail by the river.
  “Help!  Help!”
He almost didn’t hear the cry over the sound of the birds. 
“Help!!”
There it was again!  Where did it come from?
“Help!!”
It was in the river!  Someone was screaming for help from the middle of the river!
Jeff had lifeguard training, so he ran to the bank, dove in and swam to the drowning man.  He got the man to shore without much difficulty.  As he helped the terrified man scramble onto the bank, he heard it again:
“Help!  Help!!”
What?  Someone else in the water?  He quickly scanned the river.  There she was, clearly in trouble.  Another dive into the river.  Another struggle with the terrified victim, another swim back to shore. 
By now a crowd was starting to gather.  Jeff got the woman to the river bank. 
“Help!!  Help!!!”
Jeff looked back.  Sure enough, there was another person in the river! 
Jeff scrambled up the river bank.  As soon as he reached the trail he started to jog quickly north.
The people in the crowd were concerned.  They called out: “There’s someone else in the river!  Where are you going?” 
Jeff yelled back, “To stop whoever’s pushing people in!”
That is the purpose of this set of posts. 
No, they don’t have anything to do with preventing someone from being pushed into a river.  They’re not even about water. 
They’re about prevention.  Prevention of problems in marriage.  Before they start.  Getting married is sometimes referred to as “taking the plunge”, right?  So the analogy fits.
As the most significant part of prevention, I’d like to help you think about what “THE ONE” should be like.  You know, that person in your future marriage who has the most control over your happiness.  That one person who has the most potential to help your marriage thrive.    
And that person is you.