One early morning, while browsing one of my favorite social networking site, www.christianster.com, I came across a heart stirring story that almost brought me to tears. The story was all about the blind girl who hated herself just because she's blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He's always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she can see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend is blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying. "JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES DEAR."
Many of us seem to act like the blind woman. Most of the time we are guilty of the crime of not keeping our promises. Overruled by our selfish tendencies, we tend to promise something not putting in mind the binding commitment to fulfill them. Oftentimes, we failed to mean what we say and say what we mean. We failed to realize that aside from the pain we inflict on others, when promises are broken, it breaks down the fragile walls of trust and confidence that must be maintained in order for any relationship to flourish. As children, we are taught that promises are unbreakable pledges that should be fulfilled. But, as we grow older, the old adage, "promises are meant to be broken," more often justified our lack of commitment in keeping them.
Until now my favorite part in a wedding ceremony is when couples exchange vows to love each other in richer or in poorer, in good health or in sickness, in good times and in bad times until death because it signifies the commitment to give unconditional love to each other. That for me, is the core and essence of marriage. But a lot of couple will agree that those promises are easier said than done.
One funny aphorism I once read states, "Marriage is like a cage; the birds outside are desperate to get in; and those inside are desperate to get out. Marriage is not a bed of roses,as they say. Like any other vocation, married life has its share of sacrifices and struggles, trials and tribulations, imperfections and uncertainties. During trying moments, it is very tempting to ask, "Did I marry the right person?" and blame your spouse for the unfortunate situation in your married life, instead of owning the blame and start asking yourself, "Am I the right person for the one I marry?". I once read an email sent by a friend that, "THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; ITS LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU'VE FOUND."
Marriage counselor and author Gary Smalley beautifully states, "Honor is at the heart of all healthy relationship - and genuine love is a decision - not a feeling."
When one decides to love, there should be no turning back. Precisely the good reason why the Catholic Church don't allow divorce among couples. Every couple should have in mind, that their union as a couple is a decision based on love and commitment, thus, they should be ready to embrace whatever life that awaits them. After all, when God blessed the marriage, He desires every couple to build eternal and satisfying relationships.
Husband and wives, the path we choose to embark doesn't guarantee eternal happiness but we can choose to build eternal relationships because God designs every marriage to last a lifetime. I would be radical in saying, that we can achieve a happy and satisfying marriage, if everyday, we will remind ourselves of the very promises that we uttered to our spouse in the presence of GOD and His people and try to live each day, with the grace of GOD, fulfilling those promises with so much love, faithfulness, commitment and dedication.
Starting today, let us carve those promises and vows in our hearts, so when tough and trying moments besets our marriage, just like a house built on a solid foundation, our marriage will not be shaken.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she can see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend is blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying. "JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES DEAR."
Many of us seem to act like the blind woman. Most of the time we are guilty of the crime of not keeping our promises. Overruled by our selfish tendencies, we tend to promise something not putting in mind the binding commitment to fulfill them. Oftentimes, we failed to mean what we say and say what we mean. We failed to realize that aside from the pain we inflict on others, when promises are broken, it breaks down the fragile walls of trust and confidence that must be maintained in order for any relationship to flourish. As children, we are taught that promises are unbreakable pledges that should be fulfilled. But, as we grow older, the old adage, "promises are meant to be broken," more often justified our lack of commitment in keeping them.
One funny aphorism I once read states, "Marriage is like a cage; the birds outside are desperate to get in; and those inside are desperate to get out. Marriage is not a bed of roses,as they say. Like any other vocation, married life has its share of sacrifices and struggles, trials and tribulations, imperfections and uncertainties. During trying moments, it is very tempting to ask, "Did I marry the right person?" and blame your spouse for the unfortunate situation in your married life, instead of owning the blame and start asking yourself, "Am I the right person for the one I marry?". I once read an email sent by a friend that, "THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; ITS LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU'VE FOUND."
Marriage counselor and author Gary Smalley beautifully states, "Honor is at the heart of all healthy relationship - and genuine love is a decision - not a feeling."
When one decides to love, there should be no turning back. Precisely the good reason why the Catholic Church don't allow divorce among couples. Every couple should have in mind, that their union as a couple is a decision based on love and commitment, thus, they should be ready to embrace whatever life that awaits them. After all, when God blessed the marriage, He desires every couple to build eternal and satisfying relationships.
Husband and wives, the path we choose to embark doesn't guarantee eternal happiness but we can choose to build eternal relationships because God designs every marriage to last a lifetime. I would be radical in saying, that we can achieve a happy and satisfying marriage, if everyday, we will remind ourselves of the very promises that we uttered to our spouse in the presence of GOD and His people and try to live each day, with the grace of GOD, fulfilling those promises with so much love, faithfulness, commitment and dedication.
Starting today, let us carve those promises and vows in our hearts, so when tough and trying moments besets our marriage, just like a house built on a solid foundation, our marriage will not be shaken.
1 comment:
I agree although I can't exactly relate because I'm not married and never will. But I believe in what they, that true love should be able to accept and should never change someone to suit your desire. And promises for me are really made to be true and not broken...marriage vow is is no exemption.
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