Written by: We Promise Wedding Ceremonies
Photo credit: Michael Hockey Production
Couple: Camille & Gerhard van der Vyver, 2021
No one enters a relationship thinking, “Oh my, I’ve got so much love to share, to whom shall I give it?” Most often and naturally, we enter a relationship because we need to be loved. We feel the void or the lack of emotional support that a friendship can no longer provide. As human beings, we are born with a need for affection. From birth to death, we all need to be loved.
Relationships, especially romantic ones within the marriage union, offer us a space to find stability and emotional support, enabling us to prosper and grow personally. It is a safe space to make mistakes because we know the other person has our best interests at heart, fostering growth through mutual understanding in a relationship. Marriage provides the opportunity to give and receive companionship, to share joy and to face challenges together. The deepening bond of love and intimacy in marriage strengthens our sense of belonging.
From a religious perspective, marriage is where we learn vital skills such as communication, compromise, understanding, empathy, and the pursuit of common goals and meaning.
Although we enter a relationship with a ‘need’ to be fulfilled, we also grow to realize that it’s not just about what we get from the relationship, but also about how we can effect change by learning to share our vulnerability and love. Giving love is as natural a part of our relationship as receiving it.
In a world where we often feel overwhelmed by powerlessness — wondering how we could ever make a difference — marriage becomes sacred ground where we can say, “I may not be able to change the world, but the love I have received within this sacred union makes my world a better place.”
