Couple_in_the_cafe“I love you so much sweetie, I don’t think I can live without you.” Have you heard someone say those words to their significant other?, or maybe you have said them yourself, I know I have. Now the question is, do you really mean it, or it is just a simple expression?

  This week I learned that there are two types of marriage categories in which each marriage in the world falls in. One is the kind in which the couple really cannot live without their significant other, because they mean it when they say “I can’t live without you.” The other marriage is where those words are only said as a simple expression and they have no deep meaning. And here are the two different ones, as you read please evaluate what kind of marriage you have, or what kind of marriage you would like to have (if you are single).

CONTRACTUAL MARRIAGE:

       This is the kind of marriage that when trouble comes, when they find roadblocks in their path, the “parties seek happiness by walking away.” And this happens because they only “marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they’re receiving what they bargained for.(Elder Hafen 1996)” It is sad to see more and more couples falling into this category, it seems that they get marry until they run out of love, and that is the limit of their commitment. A very good example of this type of marriage can be seen in some of the lives of the rich and famous, who can see marriage as a movie contract, with a beginning and with a The End.

   COVENANT MARRIAGE:

        Completely contrary to contractual marriage, in a covenant marriage when husband and wife face trouble, when those roadblocks come their way, instead of walking away they work together through them.  That is because they “marry to give and to grow, bound by covenants to each other, to the community, and to God.( Elder Hafen 1996)”  They see marriage as what it is, a covenant between them and God. They understand that “righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the grave. (David Bednar 2006)”

One more thing about the difference between these two types of marriages:

CONTRACT COMPANIONS EACH GIVE 50%
COVENANT COMPANIONS GIVE 100% EACH

       Once again, think about your own, or your future marriage, what are you willing to give? What do you want your companion to give to your happily ever  after? Do you want a contract or a covenant? Once you answer those questions you will be on your way to what you want in your marriage!! In my case, I’m in search of my real life fairytale ending, “And they live happily ever after.” Because I know it is possible, but only when you are willing to fight for it!! And believe me when I say, I am willing to fight for my marriage!!♥♥♥

♥HURRAY FOR MARRIAGE!♥