The traditional wedding vows read something like this “I, ___, take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do we part.” While I have no problem with anyone making this vow (I made it), perhaps some people might want to change it up in order to better represent the signs of the times. Something like the following might be appropriate for some people today.
“Today on the day of the big party which is all I really wanted or prepared for. I, ___, take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to live with and to care about until I find something better or I figure out that loving you is inconvenient, for better but not worse, for richer and money will always be a sticking point, in sickness but nothing too serious and health, until death or a costly divorce do we part.”
It’s definitely not romantic but it paints an accurate picture of a large portion of marriages today. So why not change it up so that everyone goes into this thing with a clear picture of what they’re promising. The vow may be setting up for a pretty tall order but it is worth continuing because the bar for entry should not be lowered.
The lowering of the standard for the marriage vow would only quicken the downward spiral of poor marriages. Perhaps the prerequisites for marriage need to be raised such as living and working in a foreign country together for one year. Something sort of trial that proves a real commitment and understanding of one another. The main thing that people need to try to do is communicate their position and their expectations, in any relationship. Perhaps that simple communication would cause fewer people to get married and thus fewer divorces.
Change is never easy. Especially when most individuals believe that the world should change first.
Huryk Unlimited 