Only at the end

We often try to judge things at the beginning to get some perceived blessing or some sacred nod from an influential person.  If this person or that person would acknowledge that this relationship is valid and is going to make it, I would feel better about going into it.  Well, I hate to tell you, but no one can give you that information but God.  What I know about God, is that he is a perfect gentleman.  He knows when your mind is already made up despite the risk.  If you are willing to take the risk, he is willing to allow you to bite the forbidden fruit and let the juice run down your cheek.  All anyone can access in the beginning of a relationship is risk.  It is at the end that you evaluate if the relationship was a good one or not.  If you are not the same person you used to be.  If you are bitter and sensitive.  If all you have are memories that turn into nightmares, then the relationship was not a good one for you.  I always ask myself, what has my relationship with a person or place or institution done to me.  What kind of person did it create?  Do I like the person it created?  Only at the end of a thing, can we properly decide if it is a good thing.