Marriage: Respect The Process

Good day everyone, I hope we're having the best of the month. Soon it will be December and the year will be over but for the time at hand, we pray for blessings in all we do.

"Ember month" (months from September through December) is notable for one thing here, it is popularly known as months of celebration. Christmas day apart, ember months is full of celebration right from the beginning (September). There are always higher numbers of marriage ceremonies and other events all through ember months here. One of the most outstanding celebrations is weddings and traditional marriages.

The majority of people who are traditionally married and haven't done their white-wedding often fix them in times like this. On the other hand, new couples are mostly joined together too. Every Saturday stands out as wedding days, it is just celebration all through ember months weekend.

Every nationality has a marriage culture which should be duly observed to have a successful and accepted marriage. Here in Africa, we have our traditional marriage rites. Every couple is expected to follow them to have their marriage accepted and blessed. Unfortunately, those rites and traditions aren't taken seriously nowadays. People (especially young couples) marry these days without their parents knowing, they go with friends to get married without informing their own family, so outrageous!

It is true that people can get married easily but not without their parents consent and blessings. Fatherly and motherly blessings are needed in every new home. These days, some young people get married for years before informing their family. Sometimes they come back home shockingly with their unseen children and wife. Marriage should not be treated as a secret, it is a joyful thing that comes with lots of blessings for those who understand.

There's this young man living down my streets, I have known him since I was a kid. Just yesterday, he came to see my parents, informing them that he's getting married again in a couple of weeks. I was surprised to hear that because I know he has already married like five years ago. It was after he left that I was told that he was already married but it didn't work out for them.

This young man went with his friends to marry his first wife without his mom's consent. There was nobody in my street that witnessed his marriage, he only came back and introduced a beautiful young lady as his wife. We accepted and welcomed them but now, this same man is about to get married again.

It happened that his first marriage didn't work out for him. He regrets ever marrying his first wife. According to him, he met her on a business trip and they fell in love with each other. The next move was boom! Marriage with his friends as his family.

Here in Africa, we have a marriage norm of asking questions about both families going into Marriage. People bring out time to ask necessary questions about their partner and their families. That's what I have known it to be but not these days anymore. Some people don't even get married but live as couples under one roof,. having kids without being legally attached. Marriage is being re-defined these days. People who dance, eat and celebrate with couples that followed the right process are the same people that go indoors to get married without their own family knowing.

Conclusion

We have to respect what God has given to us and protect it at all cost. I know marriage can be in a court but seeking support and awareness from both families is important.

Most divorced marriages are the types that didn't take the correct process and procedures. Our fathers seem to have enjoyed marriages more than the present us. They lived happily and forever with less marriage disputes. I have been in so many marriage golden jubilee anniversary and it feels so good to see our parents celebrate with the same love they started with.

In whatever legal type of marriage people engage, it should be known that it doesn't end there. It is a union and like an everlasting bond. A bond of love to both the family and the society.

Thank you for your time.

@Gianna-B

Lead image credit: taken from unsplash.com