ALT-7 Best Reasons to Marry
The most obvious reason to marry is true love. The strongest and purest kind of love is what moves you to better yourself, better your world, and put the comfort and needs of the one you love before your own. When such a love exists mutually between you and your partner, marriage seems a natural choice. You know that this person is the one you cannot live without, and to pledge your life to that person is deserved and desired.
However, there must be a balance. You cannot rely on love solely. When you see through the eyes of love, sometimes flaws in the relationship are overlooked. Marriage is such a huge commitment, and should not be entered into lightly. As great as the love may be, the practical mechanics of the relationship must be running smoothly as well. In other words, a respect and partnership must exist as well. You may be greatly in love with your partner, but not be compatible with him or her. Have you ever been in or witnessed one of those relationships where two people are totally in love, but fight constantly? Some fighting is okay. It's actually necessary! But when the arguing gets to the point when you and your partner can hardly be in the same room together, a marriage is hardly going to succeed.
Also in a partnership a 50/50 dynamic is very important. That does not mean that you have to be giving and taking perfectly all the time. Sometimes you may be "down" in the relationship, and your partner will be there to sort of pick up the slack, or vice versa. It may go 40/60, then 65/35, etc. This is how loving support is given in a relationship. However, if you're noticing the dynamic always seems to be something like 25/75, a marriage might not be a good idea until the problem is addressed.
To reemphasize the importance of love, getting married based just upon a good partnership, but without love, is something that is probably doomed to failure. After all, without having a partner with whom you are in love, what is there to be loyal to? If your heart is not taken, it is still up for the taking. Why would you vow life-long monogamy to someone who does not have your unending love? If you want just a partner, get a roommate. As for marrying without love, it completely defeats the purpose of marriage.
Each relationship is different and complicated. Marriage is a sacred, life-long commitment to a single person and requires a great deal of thought. It first and foremost needs a great love to fuel it. It also needs a solid partnership to hold it up. One would most likely fail without the other. If both are present in the relationship, marriage is a wonderful step to take.
