“Marriage is the highest state of friendship. If happy, it lessens our cares by dividing them, at the same time that it doubles our pleasures by mutual participation.”
—Samuel Richardson
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The Holy Bible tells us that God first created man named Adam. But he was alone, so while he was sleeping, the Lord God “took one of the man’s ribs” and “made a woman from the rib” (Genesis 2:21-22). She was called a woman because “she was taken out of man.”
Then, the Creator sanctified their union by marriage. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
“Would you marry the same person twice?” That was the question of an exclusive poll conducted by the Asian edition of Reader’s Digest. The Philippines ranks second among the 15 countries surveyed with 76% of the respondents saying they are happy together with the person they marry. China tops (with 83%) while Malaysia is at the bottom (with 59%).
On the down side, most Filipinos marry while they are still young (as early as 15 years old) so much so that only 20% of the respondents over age 45 say they’d stay with the same spouse.
Love is lovelier the second time around. That is why some people marry the same person all over again. The love story of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner is a unique and moving one. Ten year old Natalie fell in love at first sight with the handsome, enthusiastic young actor when she saw him walking down the hall at 20th Century Fox. She turned to her mother and declared “I’m going to marry him” and she did just that, twice.
They married for the first time in 1957 when Natalie was only 19 years old. They divorced in 1962, and Natalie married British producer Richard Gregson in 1969. After she divorced from Gregson in 1971, she dated Robert again. They rediscovered how much they loved and meant to each other. The two remarried in 1972 aboard their yacht.
“When R.J. and I met ten years later, after our divorce, we were different people,” the three-time Oscar nominee recalled. “It wasn’t like going back to what we had before because we had both changed. We were still attracted to one another – there’s always something about that first love. It was like getting to know a whole new person although somewhere in the back of your mind – you already knew them.”
If you were in their place, would you marry the same person twice? A teacher from Benguet Province answered affirmatively. “I would definitely marry my husband again, now that I get to know him better,” she says. “He really cares and loves us, his family.” They have been together for nine years now.
A government employee from Davao City echoed the same opinion. “Yes I will marry the same person I married now,” she says. Her reasons: “Foremost, he is faithful with our relationship. In addition, he is a responsible and loving husband.” They have been married for 17 years now.
“Because we love each other.” That’s the response of the former resident of Davao del Sur now living in the United States. She was 27 when she married him; they have been married for 34 years now.
A president and chief executive officer of a pharmaceutical company, now 65, said three times affirmatively. “I am sure she will answer the same,” says the man who married his wife when he was 27 in 1972.
A lady physician shares: “I’m 71 yrs old now. If given a chance, I’d probably marry the same person I married 47 years ago. I have such wonderful children and grandchildren I couldn’t ask for more. I was 25 yrs old when I got married and we were so in love with each other.”
There may be marriages made in heaven, but there are also those which are exceptions to the saying. A pastor who had just married a couple had a parting word for the groom: “Son, God bless you. You’re at the end of all your troubles.”
A year later, the groom returned to the church and moaned to the pastor. “What a year I’ve gone through! And you told me I was at the end of my troubles,” the young man said. “So I did, son,” smiled the pastor. “I just didn’t tell you which end.”
On the other side of the coin. A newly married couple went on a cruise for their honeymoon. When they returned, the bride phoned her mother. “How was the honeymoon?” the mother inquired.
“We had a terrific time, but as soon as we returned, my husband began using horrible four-letter words. I can’t live like this. Please come and take me home,” the bride pleaded, bursting into tears.
“But, honey,” the mother asked, “what four-letter words?” The daughter replied, “Oh, they’re too awful to repeat.” The mother insisted, “I want to know what’s upset you so. Tell me what your husband has been saying.” The daughter finally relented, “Terrible words like dust, wash, iron, and cook!”
A husband told a friend who is still single: “When we got married, my wife promised to love, honor, and obey – and she does – she loves new clothes, honors her credit cards, and obeys her whims.”
The problem with communication in marriage is that every time the husband has words with his wife, she has paragraphs with him. A wise wife puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to her husband and takes a grain of salt with everything her husband says to her.
A couple was asked, “What is the secret for staying married for such a long time?” One of them answered, “That’s simple. One of us talks, and the other one doesn’t listen!” Lesson of the story for husbands: When your wife is hanging on your words, she probably wants to see if your story will hold together.
Getting married soon. Good luck!—###
