Marriage: A Beautiful Union
“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the last moment of last parting?”
~ George Eliot
How powerful it can be when we recognize that marriage has the potential of creating a beautiful union of two individuals. Through marriage a husband and wife build history together, and through this shared voyage can create a growing and deepening love each other. Marriage is a continuum of time where individuality evolves into oneness.
What I love about being married is that our relationship is continuously reinventing itself. It changes according to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Sometimes I am on the giving end; sometimes on the receiving. We are passing through the stages of shared married by first and foremost committing to the relationship. For example, each of us is willing to take risks in communicating our feelings to each other along the journey. A strong marriage encourages the sharing of one’s separate, real self. Self-disclosure as an act of trust creates closeness and security. When my husband and I verbalize our mutual our marriage becomes stronger.
Marital partners are committed, not only to the relationship, but to the growth of each other throughout the marriage. There needs to exist an environment that encourages the development of both individuals. My experience has been that each partner has to feel fulfilled, affirmed, and comfortable with his or her own identity. How wonderful the feeling that comes from having a separate, satisfying life with a partner who also feels self- satisfaction. In fact, marriage is best served when each partner grows individually as well as together. It’s also about empathy, closeness, acceptance, flexibility, and appreciation for one another. Marriage thrives when there is trust, open communication, stability, caring, emotional security, and the realization that we are not alone. I like belonging exclusively to my husband while simultaneously creating my own life purpose. An analogy that comes to mind is picturing a kite’s string securely fastened or held to the ground while the kite is able to move, explore, and experience the sky. The kite is both free and secure. A great marriage offers freedom and security as well. It thrives on each other’s accomplishes, supports individual set backs, and fosters equality.
In today’s uncertain world, if you have the good fortune of being in a fulfilling partnership, I encourage you to treasure your partner and your relationship.
