“ Marriages are made in Heaven.” “ It takes three to make a marriage: Man – Woman – God.” “ It is not good that man should be alone…Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” These are three oft-quoted sayings regarding ‘marriage’ and ‘getting married’ and ‘staying married’.

The first step definitely is finding a life partner who will remain so to the end . How shall we go about it? There is no doubt that SEARCH is the first idea to come to our mind. But remember that the first step is SEARCH along with PRAYER. “ Prayer is a powerful weapon that helps us at all times’ and it is a dependable source of help in the area of finding the right partner.

Finding the right partner initially seems easy; but when you enter the fray it does become difficult, especially when priority has to be given to ‘the right kind of alliance’ –may be good looks, good background, good salary, good character and varied other ‘goods’. Why is there the insistence on the ‘good-s’? Because marriage is not a commodity to be used today and put aside the next – to buy another one; but a life-long relationship with a person who has lived his/her own life in surroundings very different from yours. Living in our own family in the company of our parents and dear ones itself need not be a journey over smooth paths; then imagine the coming together of individuals who have lived in different surroundings for over twenty years! We may speak of adjustment and use other related terms – but please remember friends that it is God alone who can see into the depths of human hearts and bring two people together into a relationship that can last a life-time.

So pray as you begin your search. It’s a sure way to a happy married life. (Happiness to be interpreted as a mixture of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, tears and kisses – but still ONENESS REMAINING UNDIVIDED.)

PRAYER: Lord, you know me better than even I know myself. As I get ready to enter the new stage of life, I pray that you will bring me a life partner suitable for me, so that together we will be able to create a new home – the symbol of your love. Thank You Lord!