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Although it doesn't bode well for the future of marriage domestically, statistics bear out that, at least in America, the institution of legal matrimonial bonding is going the way of the dodo bird. Approximately one half of all American marriages fail. Not included in this statistic are those that choose to stay unhappily married. When factored in, well over 50% of all marriages in our society are failing or have failed. If marriage was an investment on Wall Street, no speculator would entertain the thought of throwing so much as a few coins at it, yet a married couple risks nearly everything of a material and emotional nature, in an attempt to stay matrimonially blissful for the duration of their lives.

The most frequent cause of divorce is that the absolute dependency that historically compelled married couples to endure rough and challenging times has ceased to exist. There was a period in the history of mankind when it took the combined efforts of two industrious adults to establish, maintain and adequately provide for themselves and their children. Anything less was not an option. One of the best examples of this premise is the story of Tom Lincoln, Abraham's father. When his wife Sarah Hanks died of brucellosis while they were raising a family, Tom, although in grief, didn't hesitate for a moment. He left southern Indiana for his birthplace area in Kentucky and found another woman to marry. Without a maternal influence in his home, Tom knew all domestic responsibilities would be left unattended. He had fields to plow, weed and harvest. Other agrarian obligations left him no time to clean, make bedding and clothing and can goods. A mother to assist in the upbringing of Abe, his brother and sister was essential, if the Lincoln homestead was to be a success. First and foremost, Tom loved his new wife, because of her importance to the survival of his children and their home. She offered her assistance unconditionally, with love and the understanding of how important her presence was to the welfare of three children, who'd lost their mother through no faults of their own.

Today's marriages aren't established upon a survival based framework. Physical appearance is far too often the first reason why couples are attracted to each other. Additionally, there is a "what have you done for me lately" attitude among the matrimonially bonded. Sadly, we have also become a throw away society. We use something until it no longer meets our needs and then discard it, without any thought whatsoever.

Marriages should be designed around children, their needs and an undying devotion to remain committed to meeting and exceeding what all children must have. Children, whom are the products of this mindset, stand the best chance of becoming adults adequately prepared to become industrious members of society. Additionally, they have been endowed with the same skills and knowledge bases allowing them to carry on the identical parental responsibilities that made their moms and dads such huge successes. To marry for other reasons greatly increases the likelihood that only time separates the initially enraptured, subsequently bonded in marriage, from landing in "Splitsville."

Learn more about this author, Tim Gray.
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