Marriage vs Wedding

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.