ALT-16 Best Reasons to Marry
From the day we are born life revolves around us. Our greatest concern in life, though at times we may deny it, is how happy we are, how satisfied we feel, and what else we can do to achieve the first two concerns. Of course there are those in our life with whom we manage to share some of this concern; family members, close friends, our pets. But ultimately we have this inborn desire to please one person above all else, ourselves.
And why shouldn't we? If we take into account the validity of the quote "I think, therefore I am" should we not ultimately come to the conclusion that if we do not look out for ourselves, in essence we cease to exist. And yet here lies the beauty of being a human being and realizing the extent to which words such as compassion, integrity, empathy, and love are ingrained in the very essence of the word humanity.
We are as humans quite obviously set apart on this earth from any other species that inhabits it. This is apparent most prevalently when we find ourselves becoming emotionally involved with one another. Whether those emotions benefit or hinder us depends on many other contributing factors that continue to boost the difference count between us and animals.
What in the world does any of this have to do with marriage and what would be a good reason for it? I have no idea. I'm mostly prattling on because I have no idea how to come right out and say that first of all for me there is much much more to marriage than the signing of a legal document. I was raised on the belief that to marry someone is a commitment not only until "death do us part" but far beyond into eternity. Because of this I do not view any relationship I have with levity and as an opportunity to satisfy physical attraction.
The best reason I can give for a marriage is because there is nothing we can do in this life that can compare to that of creating a family. No greater gift has been given to man and woman alike than the ability and opportunity not only to bring new life into the world, but to care for it, nurture it and do our very best to raise it in such a way that they continue on the very best parts of who we are.
Yes, commitment and attraction are huge factors in the process, but the ultimate and all encompassing emotion involved is love. Not the kind that begs for a chance to 'test' out a relationship by living together, or the kind that demands physical gratification to stay alive, but the kind that swells inside your chest. The kind that makes you want to do anything for this one person who makes you want to sing and laugh and dance all with one word. The kind that leaves you breathless because it scares you that you can feel so deeply for anything, because you've never even felt that deeply for yourself. Its a love that has no boundaries for it grows with time and experience, no conditions for the rules were set long before we fell into it, and no end for love has no thoughts for a minute detail such as time.
The best reason to marry? Because what better mission in life is there than to leave behind a solid example of the greatest part of living, unconditional love.
