Are you contemplating marriage? Consider!
Often quoted, “statistics show that ‘Christians’ or non-Christians alike almost have the same tally for marriage breakups.” If you are like me, my logical mind couldn’t make sense of what the marriage vow demanded—until death do us part? Why do some live happily-ever-after and others do not, regardless of beliefs? Is there a secret potion to it? How does one make it work? Flashback 29 years ago, when I decided to settle down, these were some of the questions I had.
And so the desire to do right was birth. Over the radio we heard an upcoming seminar on marriage. Stella and I attended it. No regrets! I realized what marriage meant and what it required (Are you kidding? Of course, not in one sitting; but the seminar opened my eye—details on a future blog). We were fortunate that we were invited to a weekly Bible study on marriage; thus, we were mentored. Think about it. If professional athletes have coaches, why would we suppose that we are exempt? E.g., Tiger Woods worked with swing coaches, Butch Marmon (1993-2004); Hank Haney (2004-2010); Sean Foley (2010-2014); Chris Como (2014-2017).1
Going back to the statistics. Is it true? Many people who seriously practice a traditional religious faith—be it Christian or other—have a divorce rate markedly lower than the general population. The factor making the most difference is religious commitment and practice.2
Yes, a fruitful marriage requires work; you cannot neglect it and expect it to flourish. It requires vision and a commitment. Expect to reap what you sow.
“The wedding ring is an emblem of love through time, a symbol of devotion and an agreement between two parties to love and cherish one another for the rest of their days. Wedding rings are circular in shape. . . . A circle has no beginning or end and is therefore a symbol of infinity. It is endless, eternal, just the way love should be. For many the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is because the vein in this finger was believed to lead directly to the wearer’s heart.”3
At the cost of oversimplification, allow me to use the ring as a word picture—an acronym to organize my thoughts on what may be the minimum ingredients to a lasting marriage. RING shall mean the following: Roles in Marriage, Intimacy, No-Return-No-Exchange Policy, and God as the Chief-Corner-Stone (application not necessarily in that order).
Notes:
1. www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/who-coaches-tiger-woods-162053
2. Glenn Stanton, Divorce Rate in the Church—As High as the World? Focus on the Family
3. www.portfoliooffinediamonds.com/Blog/August-2015/What-do-wedding-rings-represent
