The Importance of Love in a Marriage

Marriage is one of the oldest institutions. When two people want to tie the knot, it is usually because they love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together - "till death do us part." But some, however, cynics as they may be called, do not believe that love will always keep a marriage going forever and there should be other factors to consider, like money. Others see marriage as a contractual agreement between two families and love between the two people was seldom considered. Thus one has to decide whether love indeed 'makes the world go round' and is 'a many splendoured thing' that binds the marriage partners or are there other things to consider?

Marriages in the past have been known to succeed without love. During our grandparents' time, marriages were arranged and they did not see their spouses until the wedding day itself. Some learnt to love them as time passed whilst others did not. Nevertheless, the marriage endured. As long as man and wife fulfilled their basic responsibilities to their family and children, the marriage was considered to be "working."

As society is now more affluent and has changed, feelings are considered important. To many people now, love is extremely important in a marriage as it is love that will bring them through good and bad times and will bind the family as one. The warmth and care love generates can never be replaced. Many believe that. the love expressed between the two people will show their children the strength of love and illustrate how love makes the family stick together. Children will then learn the importance or love as seen in their parents' relationship and that love has carried them through thick and thin. It is the foundation of a marriage and family.

But others, on the other hand, argue that love in a marriage is purely idealistic. "'There are certainly other things to consider," they say. Financial stability is the foundation of a strong marriage, they believe, as material wealth can give what love cannot. - a shirt on the back and a full stomach. Of course, one can have love and be financially stable but the point one is trying to make is that. love should not. be given top priority. For a marriage to work, there must be financial stability, so that the couple will not. spend so much of their time worrying about bills and more bills which, in fact, might cause a strain in the marriage. The children might also be affected as they will not have, the comfort that their parents want them to have. This might cause them to consider material wealth above not. only love but everything else as they have seen their parents quarrel acrimoniously over money. Thus making money might become their primary objective in life as they become totally disillusioned about love.

I am not trying to throw a wet blanket on those hopeless romantics who believe that love can save the world. The point I am trying to make is that without a stable roof over one's head and clothes on one's back there will be little time for love. So, I maintain that love is important but, equally important, is money. So love plus money may make a successful marriage.