Marriage Defined

I looked up the dictionary definition of marriage today. “Marriage is the formal union of a man and a woman, usually recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.”

My next thought was that definition is going to have to change in the coming years. “Marriage is the formal union of two people, usually recognized by law.”

Is that it? That doesn’t tell me much about what marriage is. That definition doesn’t tell me that when two people marry, they do so because they love each other or that they want to live the rest of their lives together.

That definition doesn’t tell me anything about the purpose of such a formal union. What is the purpose of marriage? Raising children? Building wealth? Finding happiness? Being fulfilled? Sharing a lifetime together? All of these?

Whatever the purpose of your marriage, it works to have a loving partner who is aligned with you in your values and your vision. A partner is an ally, a teammate or a colleague, someone who works with you to achieve joint goals or shared dreams. With a partner, you can create your life, cooperate with each other and share accomplishments.

It is always funny to me when I read in the paper that someone divorced their “partner.” Usually, by the time two people are getting a divorce, they are no longer partners. By that time, there is no partnership, teamwork or loving connection.

Whatever your purpose, your values, your vision or your lifestyle, consider this definition of marriage: “Marriage is a formal union and loving partnership between two people, usually recognized by law.”

Yes, what I have with my wife, Martha, is a formal union, recognized by law. But much more importantly, we have a loving partnership.

Reference

Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, College Edition. (1957) New York: The World Publishing Company.

Posted in Partnership Marriage