I don't know if it's just that I'm getting older or maybe because I've just experienced more, but sometimes, I wish people would approach marriage with a bit more respect.
How did I get on this topic exactly? Rewind to about a year back and I was watching one of my friend's marriage unravel. disintegrate. Pick your term/euphemism. Either way, it's not a pretty sight. I still remember the friends I grew up with who's parents were divorced. And the new friends I've made along the way who've gone through their parents
separation, if not technically-full-out divorce. I've learned to recognize how it's shaped their lives... their outlook on life and the people around them.
And I'm around all these people who have such crazy expectations of their future mates. Who treat married people as either non-existent or just single people. I'm not saying I've got this down... On the whole, I wonder how many people who are not married
have a clue as to what marriage really means? We just have this fuzzy mishmash of romantic notions with glimpses from our parents and pastors. I dare you single people to read the
traditional marriage vows. I stupefies me that people think that marriage is just
the next step.
I'm personally against divorce, but I have to admit I don't really know how that translates into action. I just don't want to be one to say... Sure, I plan to be married to a lady for life.... and then drop the ball somewhere in the middle. How about preparing to be married? Like dealing with your anger issues, now, not waiting till God brings that special someone into your life. Getting your finances in order? How about communication? Ready for dealing with the sins of another person, up close and personal? Forgiveness...
If you ask me, dating is the easy part. Being married to one person for life is much more difficult. So instead of preparing to be the best boyfriend or best girlfriend... how about investing some time & energy into being a good husband or a good wife? How about investing in those families around you and lending them a helping hand during tough times? Praying for them. Babysitting for a couple hours. Helping just that little bit for them to live a faithful and fruitful life together.
Loving your (married) neighbor as yourself.
Shalom,
ha256
--- --- ---
So police to kill you for being drunk, unruly, and unarmed...(
court documents,
more details...)
Um... who exactly are we bailing out in this foreclosure madness?
Comments (4)
The community has some responsibility in helping a marriage keep intact.. This is especially true in the Christian community. There's a reason why the holy matrimony ceremony is always held in front of the congregation.. It's not only for them to witness it. But it's also for the congregation to bless the couple, and later on, keep this marriage intact...
I am against divorce as well.. and you are right in saying that dating is the easy part, but committing your life to your husband/wife for the rest of life requires a lot of work and commitment...
After all, isn't love a choice??
-gRaCe-
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg786kqw_32cb2r4qhm
Yea... Marriage is such an important issue. My mentor and a pastor-friend just got married this past year. And my own church's pastor and my best friend since high school are going to get marry this year. I myself have been going steady with my girlfriend about almost two years now... and I'm really excited and praying to seal the deal within the next 2 years down the line. The more I pray about my future with my girl... the more I found myself praying "our" future and "our" vision rather than just I, me, and myself. It sure is scary thinking about it, but I can't imagine a more wonderful blessing than to have two flesh join to become one to glorify God :D
You're right. Being married is the hard part... and sometimes staying committed to that is even harder!
But society had changed... and I spoke with a couple (my patient and his wife) and they'd been together 40 years and even they said times have changed. Divorce rate up to 60%. We're a quick fix generation... and if it's hard, people don't stick things out anymore...
but you know... sometimes, you're never prepared for how hard marriage will be.