The Changing Face of Marriage

I think that my parents have heavily incorporated the idea of the 'domestic church' into our family.  My brother and I have always been told to thank God for what for what we have been blessed with, ask him for help or guidance during stressful or overwhelming times, and to life out the Church's teachings through our ability to do the right thing.  My family goes to church every weekend whether it's on Sunday morning or Saturday night because of a sporting event or special activity.  Watching the clip of "He's Just Not That Into You," has provided me with an insight with the 'changing face of marriage."  I think I agree with Jennifer Aniston's character that marriage is an important step to complete every committed relationship.  I cohabitation is a con to the new concepts of marriage, because as I have learned in VHS and Psychology, cohabitation is not a true commitment, because nothing is forcing those two people to stay and work things out once things get tough.  My parents have had fights, but they always work things out, because they made that commitment over 25 years ago to stay together.  On the other hand, I think one of the pros to the new face of marriage is the acceptance of same-sex marriage that is slowly spreading across the country.  I think the fact that college graduates with degrees are less likely to get a divorce is something that everyone should take notice of.  Having a college degree means that an individual has some level of intelligence and should therefore know when to commit to a relationship if that person is the right person.  When I grow up and get married, I definitely want to form the concept a 'domestic church' in my household.  My parents raised me with Christian values, taught me how to be a genuine person, and what it means to have faith.  I want to do the same with my children.

Dating and 'Hooking Up'

In his book, "Love, Reason, and God's Story," David Coultier describes a class of people labeled as "anti-daters."  These people are completely opposed to dating because they believe that the temporary aspect of dating makes the people in a couple practice for divorce. I strongly disagree with this belief. I think that dating is a crucial part of life. Dating allows an individual to find what characteristics she needs/wants in her future husband and what relationship dynamic is most compatible to her lifestyle.  However, I do believe that a person needs to be aware of and know her identity before entering a long term relationship. I think that serious dating relationships should be built on friendship and not just that one night when "we hooked up." In today's culture, many people enter short term relationships later in life to meet new people and see if he or she could be a possible spouse.  Teenagers, however, tend to enter relationships just for fun and to have a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend."  In these relationships, the hookup usually comes before the friendship.

Love Story Reflection

The love story of my parents has a large impact on my perception of relationships.  My parents did not meet on a blind date, they were not childhood best friends, or high school sweethearts.  My parents found love when they weren't expecting it.  My parents' love story is one of true love of devotion.  Like every couple, my parents have their fights, but they always seem to come out of those fights stronger than before.  My parents have shown me that love is not perfect, but it is most definitely worth it.

My parents' love story is real.  That's why I think it is better than every love story I see on tv.  My parents did not fall in love after the first date, like the characters in Endless Love.  My parents built their relationship on a foundation of trust and friendship and care.  My parents also didn't marry each other just for the sake of getting married like Kim Kardashian or the contestants on The Bachelor.  The song that I chose to describe my parents' love story is "More Today Than Yesterday" by Pat Upton.  My favorite line, "I love you more today than yesterday, but only half as much as tomorrow."  This song talks about a love that grows stronger everyday, and I believe that parents' love is similar to that.  The only a couple can stay in a happy marriage for 26 years like my parents is if they keep finding a new joy in falling back in love with their spouse everyday.