Joseph and Chrisya’s Wedding

In 2016, there was this trend in social media wherein one who has liked a status of a Facebook user, would receive a message from that Facebook user. It so happened that Chrisya clicked the Like button on Joseph’s status on Facebook, and so in turn, Joseph started to send chat messages to her. This was how everything started between the two. And just like any other love stories, they started to communicate with each other as friends. Then their friendly communication led them to a deeper knowledge of themselves and became intimate. Joseph would give a hint of his feeling towards Chrisya by saying to her that she is cute and he wants to hug her. He even brought a heart-shaped cake as his gift to Chrisya on one Valentine’s Day showing his romanticism. When Chrisya met an accident, Joseph never left her. As days passed by, they learned to love each other. Now they are here in our midst and before God to testify that they do love each other for better, for worse, until death sets them apart. Joseph and Chrisya, to say this may sound easy, but when it comes to married life, love becomes more complex. It means love has many components.

Robert Sternberg, a psychologist, breaks down the components of love into three: intimacy, passion and commitment. For now, you have experienced intimacy and passion in your relationship. Intimacy speaks of your emotional attachment to each other. Passion is your experience of excitement to be with each other. With the presence of intimacy and passion in your relationship, Joseph and Chrisya, you now feel and think you are both ready for a commitment. Commitment is a choice to stay with each other no matter what you feel.

As I have said earlier, love becomes more complex in a married life because you cannot just stay in your marriage solely because you depend on what you feel; you also need to make a choice from time to time. When you feel happy or sad, shall you choose to stay with your spouse? When your spouse commits mistakes, shall you choose to forgive or hate him/her? These questions and all other similar questions may come across your minds as husband and wife, and you need to make a choice for the good of your marriage. If you cease to make a good choice, then another broken vow shall be added to the list of bad marriages.

Joseph and Chrisya, what do I mean by making a good choice? It is not a choice which appears to be good but a choice to follow the will of God for married couples; it is called God’s choice. God wills that what God has joined together, let no man put asunder (Mark 10:9). Thus, Joseph and Chrisya, you should make a choice to stay with each other no matter what you feel because this is what God wills for married couples. If you are consistent in doing good choices for the sake of your marriage, only then it can be said that you have a strong commitment in your relationship. To do this, both of you should call on God to bless you. Joseph and Chrisya, your love story may begin without mentioning God in your relationship. But your love story could not continue if you are unaware of the presence of God in your relationship. Human love has its own flaws and limits.  If you wish to love that lasts forever, then do love each other with the love of God. In 1 John 4: 7-8, it says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Thus, Joseph and Chrisya, love each other with the love of God. Amen.