Many people say that marriage just doesn't mean as much anymore as it used to.
I disagree.
I think that it means much, much more than it used to. Think about it--for centuries, marriage was just expected. It's what you did, no questions asked. It provided stability, increased familial wealth, united territories, prevented (and sometimes started) wars, was the only socially acceptable way to conceive children, and on and on and on.
These days, you don't have to get married. Women, while still behind in the workplace, can make their own way in the world through education and/or careers. It's no longer absolutely taboo to have children out of wedlock. Land, property, family farms, estates, male heirs, etc. don't play into our lives the way they used to. The divorce rate being so high would seem to contradict my point, but it strengthens it.
In the face of all these things, choosing to marry someone these days really is a commitment, a promise, and a bond that speaks volumes of your love and dedication to your spouse. It means you're in it for the long haul, come hell or high water. Do people still get married for stupid reasons? Of course. But if you willingly wait until the right person comes into your life, and you know that you will always love them no matter what, and they you--consider yourself lucky.
I do.
