Marriage Losing Its Value? by Tracey Lincoln

Tracey and I were supposed to collaborate on this topic, but I think she covered it beautifully without my help. Here's what she said:

"Marriage is a commitment and a bond that has been upheld for thousands of years. Over the years, it’s value has altered and transformed from sacred, to tradition, and now it seems to be some sort of an obligation.

With divorce skyrocketing, it makes me wonder why people get married in the first place. When problems in a marriage arise, how hard do those involved fight to solve such issues? The vows read, “to love and to cherish, through thickness and thin”. Since when did forever last a year? Since when did thickness flow as thin and shallow as most petty arguments? Since when did cherishing your significant other mean to treat them with hostility?

Marriage is a contract of infinite love and commitment. If two people are not ready, willing nor fit to sign a contract like this, then they shouldn’t get married at all. This vision has become such a fad that it now seems so easily dismissible. It’s like breaking this contract has become a norm, and laving three or four husbands in a lifetime is mundane.

For someone to get married and have doubts from the beginning that that they’re stepping into a situation that “might not work out” is strange. Why would you step into a life long commitment with doubt that it may not work out? If people cannot value the sanctity of marriage for what it really is, then they shouldn’t get married at all."

What do you think?