Before You Say "I Do"

Photo by Guanfranco G on Unsplash

 

Nowadays, many people rush into marriage without really knowing what it entails. Not long into the marriage they begin to entertain the idea of divorce. Let's rewind to the day of the wedding:

To the Groom: Do you, (Groom's name) take this woman, (Bride's name), to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times, for richer or poorer, for better, for worse, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?

Groom: I DO

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To the Bride: Do you, (Bride's name), take this man, (Groom's name), to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times, for richer or poorer, for better, for worse, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?

Bride: I DO

Minister: By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife and what God hath joined together, let no man nor woman put asunder.

The couple bask in the euphoria of their new status. They relish every moment of the event, making sure not to miss out on anything.

Now at home, they begin to realize that 'wedding' is different from 'marriage' as the mysteries of this great union begin to unravel, to their amazement.

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Sadly, after all the profession of their requited love for each other, that happiest day of their lives is now referred to as "the worst day of my life", and "I wish I never met you" simply because one or both of them failed to fully understand and realize the gravity of words they had said that day.

"Love is blind, but marriage is an eye opener", Says a mother, to her about-to-get-married daughter. "Don't let your eyes open to the ugly side of marriage because that is what you'd be seeing and living in for the rest of your life", she continues.

Marriage is a University where you matriculate but never graduate, let that sink. While you are in a relationship/planning to go into a relationship with that person, there are some things you ought to have known.

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1. Meaning of Marriage:

Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, instituted and ordained by God as the lifelong relationship between one man as husband, and one woman as wife. Marriage is not for boys and girls but for men and women. A man and a woman are two mature people; mature in all areas, be it physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, financial, understanding, and in everything that differentiates a boy/girl from a man/woman.

2. Marriage is not a bed of roses:

I know, you've heard it a thousand times but what it is, is what it still is, nothing has changed in the meaning of that sentence. You probably may have been taking light of the meaning and appreciating the figurative form of expression instead, but now you really have to sit and think deep of it's meaning. It's meaning solves a lot of other questions that comes up concerning marriage.

 

3. Why Are You Getting Married?

What is your purpose of getting married? Is it due to pressure? Do you think marriage will solve your problems? Do you feel marriage will make you complete? You shouldn't go into marriage with very high or unrealistic expectations or else you'd be left worse than if you had been single.

4. Do you really know your partner?

This is where most people fail to invest time in. Taking time to know the person you're getting married to is the basis of marriage because that part of your partner you waved off/thought was less important is what will actually make or mar your marriage. Those little habits, how they react to something/someone, etc are the greatest determinants of a great marriage. So, you must be willing and ready to accept their little faults/imperfections and should be able to tolerate them in every area.

 

5. MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE!!!!

Yes, I had to make this bold so you would not skip it for any reason. Remember God hates divorce; therefore, you both will be together for life till death causes separation.

 

MAY GOD MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE BEAUTIFUL, AMEN.

 

Kindly share your thoughts below, thanks.