When to marry, that is the question

This was in response to a question posted on a blog about whether encouraging young adults to wait for marriage was a good thing. Are we robbing them of good training and "bonding" as a couple, not withstanding life's first struggles together. Interesting question. By the way, I heard our government is spending $5 million to promote marriage from the ages of 18 - 30 because "marriage" has fallen by the wayside.

We have 5 children. Our 2 eldest, girls, are in high school. From birth, they've heard "high school, college, travel, career or job (at what you love doing), boyfriend/love/marriage, family". Why? Because, being married alone is very hard & deep work. Having a family, even more. Debt, more. Trouble will come. Paul himself said there is a benefit to being single. An ability to concentrate on life & goals, that you don't always have in marriage. Our goal is to encourage our girls to take the time to get to know themselves, invest in their minds, their beings, find security & confidence, before they pledge themselves to someone for life.

There is something to be said about life experience. Understanding. With or without God - life itself teaches an amazing class. We change through that and as an older, mature, life and/or college educated person, the hope is, you will be able to shoulder life's trauma better, whether alone or with a spouse. However, as many of us know, there are no guarantees and exceptions to almost every rule. We are human.