Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of its Love

"Marriage is a commitment to life, to the best that two people can find & bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing & growth that no other human relationship can equal; a joining that is promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife & a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, & critic.

There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, & the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens & enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, & passes away more quickly. Marriage understands & forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.

It encourages & nurtures new life, new experiences, & new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life. When two people pledge to love & care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill."