[MichaelHeart]

If you are not presently in a relationship, What traits and qualities do you seek in a man or woman?

If you are presently in a relationship, What traits and qualities did you seek in a man or woman? Did he/she meet your expectations? Did you sacrifice anything on your list? Did you get more or less than you were seeking?

Please specifiy your age and sex in your response! Thanks!

God Bless You and Yours,
Michael Heart

[immita]

I had been in lots of relationships before. I used to think that a strong good looking man was enough. Now I am older I have come to realise that the person I needed just had to be generous, understanding, loving, patient and willing to try to make our relaitonship work. Looks help but has nothing to do with the whole thing. and yes I have found what I was looking for in my partner. There is always a bit out doubt because wew never really know anybody but so far I am satisfied

[jahspromise]

I'll be 41 next month and I'm a female.
In a man.. I look for someone:

who believes in God and the Bible
Has a great sense of humor
Loves to talk
Loves children
Patience, understanding, and caring
Honest, loyal, sincere
Doesn't mind horseback riding, and has to LOVE the outdoors

[lachocolatecream]

Originally Posted by jahspromise

I'll be 41 next month and I'm a female.
In a man.. I look for someone:

who believes in God and the Bible
Has a great sense of humor
Loves to talk
Loves children
Patience, understanding, and caring
Honest, loyal, sincere
Doesn't mind horseback riding, and has to LOVE the outdoors

I can say I agree with most of your qualities except the last lol. Plus I can add a few more. But you hit the keypoints.

[wataylor]

Originally Posted by jahspromise

I'll be 41 next month and I'm a female.
In a man.. I look for someone:

who believes in God and the Bible

The Bible has quite a bit to say about how a man should treat a wife. First, he must realize that a wife is a gift from God:

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD. Proverbs 18:22

A woman is not merely a gift from God, she’s a good gift from God.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:8-11

A woman is not merely a good gift from God, she’s a good and perfect gift from God.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

God expects a husband to appreciate his wife and to praise her as God’s unique, special gift to her husband:

Her children arise up, and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Proverbs 31:28-29

Every man knows that having a woman is a good thing, why else would men chase women so? The Bible says that God made women’s emotions so that they want to belong to men and that He gave them a drive to talk so that men wouldn’t be lonely. Talk is as important to a woman as sex is important to a man. Sex is very important to a man, talk is very important to a woman. John 1:1 says that God is His word, Gen. 5:1-2 says that women and men together are made in the image of God. Like God, a woman is her words. If a man doesn’t appreciate her words, if he doesn’t open his heart to her words, she knows he isn’t hers. As opening her body to him makes a woman belong to a man, opening his heart to her makes a man belong to her.

God made woman so that man would not be alone, her drive to talk keeps him from being alone. A woman expects her husband to open his heart to her whenever she’s able to talk to him. Delilah said, “how canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?” (Judges 16:15). Samson said he loved her, he took her so that she became his, but his heart wasn’t hers. He gave her the world’s love, which is desire, or lust, the world’s love is not based on an open-heart relationship. Proverbs 31 says, “the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.” God expects a man to open his heart to his wife and to be hers (Song 2:16, 6:3). Samson took Delilah without sanctifying her, he took her without opening his heart, he wasn’t hers, he defrauded her. They say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Delilah was taken and then scorned; most people know the fruit of her fury.

A woman wants a man who likes opening his herat to her in talk. That makes it easier for her to belnog to him.

Does this make sense?

[ginnipher]

I'm not picky. One requirement is that they have somewhat of an understanding of why I am the way I am (I'm a very complicated person - there are people who've known me for all of my life and still don't "get me"). Also, I don't want to date someone who keeps there brain padlocked in a box. Meaning I want someone who is open-minded. I also couldn't be with an overly religious person. That would just be a disaster waiting to happen.
That's really all I can think of.

[MomNlovNit]

Honor, Integrity, honesty, a sense of humor, and most important, able to be my best friend. I met him 15 years ago and have been loving life ever since. Before I met my DH I thought an attractive, tall, dark and handsome type was good, and, they actually were....but only for short periods of time. For a life time relationship though, a man who is honest, and trustworthy, able to communicate and hard working, yet loving is what it is all about. My husband is nothing like what I used to imagine the perfect man to look like. Although he is tall, he has red hair, blue eyes, and white skin (Irish)! But what a man! He just keeps getting better and better with age too. We both recently turned 41.

[MJ7]

Sounds like MomNlovNit, you know what you want! lol! Good for you

wataylor, I so do like those scriptures you've provided a wife is a "good thing" --a faithful one anyway !

What I looked for in a man at the time was handsome and independant who had common interests. Though I found these things in my dh, thankfully he meets my new criteria NOT that I'm out looking. Hard working, loyal, clean, handsome, respects God, confident but not arrogant, and helps with the house and kids.

[WA_Julie]

Interesting question, Michael! True story: I made a list of things that were important to me and prayed about it. God gave me what I asked for -- NOT what I had in mind (), but what I asked for.

Here are a couple of things from the list:
* has to be smarter than I am
* must have a great sense of humor (if he can't make you laugh, you're doomed. You can only stare at a handsome face for so long.)
* preferably in the service
* blue eyes (okay, so I *did* include a couple of shallow things!)
* Christian, and practicing
* No problem with porn or alcohol
There were about a dozen others. My dh fit them ALL!

F, 40s

[jadis]

Here is my list....and my partner fits most of them

PS- I'm 25 and female- partner is 27 and male.....and did I mention fabulous? (most of the time, lol)

• Is intelligent- doesn't need to necessarily be book smart, but must be able to keep up with conversation. A love of books would be a plus!
• Has a good sense of humour- and MUST be able to laugh at himself once in awhile.
• Is not intimidated by a woman who has a strong career drive- I have been in school for 7 years now, and have approx 5 to go. I don't plan on giving up my career plans/goals for anyone!
• In turn, must also have a strong sense of self and what they want to do with their lives- I am no one's momma, and don't plan on 'raising' an adult!
• Believes in human rights unconditionally- not that some humans deserve more rights than others. Along with that, must be able to put up with/support my activist activities.
• Preferably not in the military, law enforcement, or state-governed organizations of surveillance and control (in Canada: CSC, CSIS, etc). This is as much for his sake than it is mine, lol, as it would prevent a lot of conflict right off the bat.
• Must be active, and take care of themselves physically. A gym buddy would be excellent.
• Must be non-religious- agnostic or atheist would be a plus. I don't want anyone who is going to try to convert me, or try to raise any future children as being part of any religion.
• Must, must MUST love animals.....I don't think I can live in a house without a handful of cats and dogs.
• Will be able to put up with/embrace my massive, somewhat disfunctional, multi-racial family.

I know I am selective.....but it totally paid off, because I have finally found someone fabulous! I sacrificed some of the superficial stuff that I thought was important previously (good teeth, taller than me, etc)- because in the end it didn't really matter. I also find it very interesting that I am set to marry someone who has completely opposite career interests as me- he is a nurse, and volunteers for a lot of front-line work through organizations such as St John Ambulance. He is doing stuff that I would never be able to do (due to my irrational fear of vomit and lack of patience), and I am constantly fascinated by him!