The podcast about relationshipsA provocative topic was recently posed by Tonight’s Conversation: What can a man have from a girlfriend but not a wife?
Permanent covenant, favor, vows, stability, emotional and spiritual unity, and moral values are just a few of the important things that the woman on the panel touched on. She did, however, make a point that struck me as both disheartening and terribly true: many women nowadays give all of those things without the commitment or ring. This begs the more profound question of whether marriage’s purity is still valued in our society today.
The distinction between a girlfriend and a wife is hazy these days. Why would a man feel the need to elevate that status to marriage when he is already receiving the majority, if not all, of what was previously unique to the marital union? A girlfriend frequently offers emotional support, intimacy, and even long-term commitment. Unfortunately, many people now view marriage as nothing more than a piece of paper that no longer has the deep meaning it once did.
Marriage is supposed to give something more profound than vows that connect two people legally and spiritually, as one of the panelists pointed out. However, many people today recite vows they don’t fully understand as they walk down the aisle. The concept of commitment has undergone significant change. People get married, but they don’t really comprehend or intend to keep their vows. It’s for better or worse until something goes wrong, at which point it’s all about the individual. The idea of making concessions or compromising for the benefit of the union is gradually fading. What’s left is a generation of people who are too insecure, cautious, and wounded to believe in marriage.
Whether they are aware of it or not, some single individuals bring this hurt into their relationships. They transmit it like a virus by bringing their emotional baggage, fears, and mistrust of marriage. Relationships that fail frequently lack the commitment to overcome obstacles together. There is a lack of the mutual growth and compromise that are the basis of a marriage. Whether you’re a wife or girlfriend, it’s difficult to maintain any kind of long-term relationship without that base.
The U.S. Census indicates that there are more unmarried women than unmarried men in the country. The widely held assumption in America that everyone is or should be a part of a couple has a price. In actuality, married couples are the intended beneficiaries of the legal system. In the United States, obtaining a marriage certificate confers formal status and eligibility for more than 1,000 federal laws, including those at the federal level.
In her article in Psychology Today, social scientist Dr. Bella DePaulo, Ph. D., author of Single at Heart: The Power, Freedom, and Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life, gave examples of this, including more access to health insurance, the right to next-to-kinship, the ability to access your partner’s social security benefits, and the ability to inherit property even if your spouse passes away without a will.
In a podcast conversation with comedian Cory Holcomb, former NFL player and sports analyst Cam Newton disclosed that, although he is currently dating Jasmine Brown, with whom he has a child, he has had relationships with other women in the past.Newton clarified that having open discussions with his partner Jas has helped him develop their relationship because she lets him talk to her and have different kinds of banter, whether it’s awkward or shit. However, Brown is Newton’s sixth child and his third baby mother.
Ideally, marriage brings with it a greater degree of dedication. It is more than just love; it is an oath, a public statement of devotion, and a social and legal acknowledgement of one’s allegiance. This acknowledgement is significant. It makes two people feel more confident in their relationship and enhances their bond. Saying “I’m committed” is simple, but marriage makes that commitment public. The pledge made by society is to support one another no matter what, no matter how bad things go.
But this kind of dedication seems undervalued these days. Some claim that they don’t need a formal document to establish their love, and they don’t regard marriage as any different from a committed relationship. Although there is some validity to this viewpoint, it ignores the underlying emotional, social, and even spiritual significance of marriage. Being committed means more than simply remaining together; it also means being prepared to make sacrifices, develop as a team, and put your partner’s and your family’s needs ahead of your own.
Communication and Growth
One constant in both relationships and marriages is the importance of communication. It is essential to every long-term partnership. Without candid communication, a couple cannot overcome their inescapable obstacles. When people start a marriage without the communication skills needed to sustain a solid, developing relationship, several marriages end in divorce. The communication principle is applicable whether you’re dating or married, but in a marriage, it assumes a deeper meaning. When properly interpreted, marriage is about sharing your life, not just your place.
It provides a greater degree of intimacy and trust that comes from totally committing to someone, something that dating frequently cannot match. Knowing that you have someone who will support you through all of life’s highs and lows is just as important as having a sexual relationship. The highs and lows of marriage, the ordinary and the extraordinary, every fight and victory, all contribute to the development of that degree of intimacy.
Marriage should push you to become more responsible, mature, and mature—not just for yourself, but also for your spouse and even your family. It calls for sacrifice, cooperation, and the readiness to make choices that take other people’s needs into account.
