Just this past Friday my Coach Sam
Obafemi and his Olori celebrated their Marriage Anniversary. Now I know that
sounds odd, but like I said to him, his was not a wedding anniversary as is
widely known, but a Marriage anniversary.
I might not be an authority on
this subject, but I have learned quite early in life that there is a great
difference between a Marriage and wedding. It is quite unfortunate however that
many people concentrate on the wedding (temporal and short) part than on the
marriage part of the whole deal. The wedding and its affairs last for just a
few hours in a single day and after that, it is expected that the marriage part
should start playing.
The success of any marriage
depends on its foundation just like any building and just as builders and
masons concentrate on their foundations before raising any building, so also
great attention should be paid to the foundation of a marriage if it would ever
work.
Most people will say the
foundation of any marriage is God and I would agree with you to an extent, but
that is not all! Will cement alone suffice to make a good foundation? I think
not. There are other components that need to be brought to the mixture and the
cement will hold them together for you. It is therefore your sole responsibility
to bring together those necessary components and let the cement do the ‘holding’.
As much as the ‘God factor’ is
very essential, you and I have a great responsibility – to deliberately make
our marriages work. God will NOT come down to help you with your duties in the
marriage because that is entirely your work. Marriage is about friendship,
partnership and fellowship and it is everybody’s responsibility to make sure
this works. It has never been easy and I do not entertain the illusion that it will
ever be easy, but one thing I know is that, with determination and hard work it
is possible.
I might not be married, but I know
it does not hurt to learn these lessons early. Let us learn as much as we can
NOW so that we can apply them when the time comes.
Thank God for people we can learn
from, thank God for model marriages, thank God for ours that will work.
Have a great planning week ahead.
