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Choosing A Life Partner

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It is usually said that the
three most important events in a man’s life are his  birth, marriage and death. Of these, while he   has no control over birth, he may, if willing, exercise a considerable control over marriage and has little control over death. In all, nature is often allowed to take its course with little thought of consequences.
Many young persons have always asked, “which kind or manner of woman or man will I marry and how will I know who is my wife or husband? The answer is usually, when the time comes, the will of God shall prevail. Thus young people are encouraged not  to place undue emphasis on emotional factors and  neglect the exercise of sane judgment.
Knowing who to marry manifests when you really fall in love with someone. One may again ask, what is this love into which a person is said to “fall”? Is it something supernatural, predetermined, canal, platonic or infallible? It is not mysterious but simply a state of emotional exhilaration which has been stimulated by social and physical appeal. Falling in love is a pleasant experience and a couple in love seek each other’s approval.
They avoid the mention of unpleasant circumstances, try to make favourable impressions and they are on their good behaviour. A couple with the intention to marry spend their time in recreation rather than in work. Their thoughts run to the future rather than to the realities of the cost and the present.
During courtship, a couple do not always place emphasis on those traits that are most significant in determining eventual happiness in marriage, although occasionally, one person will observe undesirable characteristics in the other. Usually the thrill of being in love prompts the false assumption that marriage is a miraculous procedure by which all the undesirable traits will be eliminated. Young people usually think or hope that there will be the perfect marriage and that they will live happily forever after but once married, they begin to assume the obligations to address themselves to work while taking life as it comes.
Before marriage, a would  be couple must investigate those qualities which are known to have a bearing on the   marriage to act wisely in his or her choice of mate.
Successful marriage implies more than just a pleasant honeymoon but a matter of “till death do us part,” and the final criterion on which a marriage must be judged.
Marital happiness is a measurable reality and is anchored on several basis which include agreement in matters of finance, their choices of friends, their selection of recreation, their philosophies of life, they have kindred interests and activities, have no regrets regarding their marriage and they do not resort to persistent complaints regarding each other’s shortcomings.
There are several reasons teenage marriages are undesirable. For instance, financial security is seldom established during the teens, so a very young couple must either continue under the parental care or struggle against such hardships as may cause them to regret the matrimonial venture. Under ideal circumstances, marriage should carry with it an awareness of independence as husband and wife cannot develop a proper regard for their home when premature marriage prevents their being able to control their own affairs.
Social research has proved that the highest percentage of happy marriages result when the groom is not less than 24 and the bride not less than 22 years of age. However, in the Nigerian system, these are arbitrary figures, but they represent average ages at which it may be assumed that personalities have reached that stage of maturity which is favourable to successful marriage.
Marriage involves a mutual agreement and genuine happiness depends as much on the husband as on the wife. This is why a woman is free to choose her husband as well as the man. Convention, however, requires that a young woman waits to be invited but it is not imperative that she must accept the first offer that is extended to her. The woman’s lifestyle as well as her accomplishments and culture may determine the number and quality of invitations she receives from a young man of high ideals if she meanwhile encourages flirtation from someone whose standards are inferior.
Many young people resent their parents’ insistence on being consulted regarding their special friendships. They fail to realise that parents have a just basis for being concerned in the future of their sons and daughters, and for realising that matrimony is a most important step in life.
Having the advantage of longer experience and broader perspective, parents desire to protect their children from the consequences of rash decisions.
Christian young people should give respectful considerations to the counsel of godly parents regarding their choice of special friends. Not only is the judgment of parents more mature and more conservative and safer, but the parents may be trusted to derive their intents from a sincere effort to spare their son or daughter from the mishaps of life.
Bearing in mind that young people will be dealing with their parents for the rest of their parents lives, they must take reasonable precaution in matters of choosing a husband or wife. Failing to do this may make the relationship between the parents and the newly chosen partner be unpleasant. When it comes to choosing a life partner, husband or wife, young people should not feel that they have arrived at adulthood and therefore, should make their choices without consulting the parents. They should not feel that it is their own home that will be established and not that of their parents.
Some prospective couples may even feel that they are in a position to avoid certain mistakes made by their parents when establishing their home. Such an attitude of independence and egotism is usually evident enough that the young persons have not yet reached that maturity which gives them an impartial perspective.
Religious affiliation is an important consideration for those contemplating marriage. Those who belong to the same church have been reared in similar surroundings and this similarity of background, as well as the common bond of religious faith, tends to simplify the adjustment to married life and to provide an assurance of continued harmony. Membership in different churches is a serious threat to marital happiness as there are some churches which require their members to keep away from “unbelieving” husband or wife.
A couple in the same church will promise not to oppose their religious exercises and will encourage and permit their children to be reared in harmony with the stated religion. Such requirements tend to force the spouses into a definite compromise. It is difficult for happiness to exist in a home where one member is expected to conform to regulations with which he is not in harmony.
The scripture is clear in this admonition as it says: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2Corinthians 6:14).

 

Shedie Okpara

Kids in a ballet session

Kids in a ballet session

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Women

The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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A woman needs a man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money,  it is always difficult.


Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire  shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things.   A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has.  Traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.


According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.


The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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Women

What Women Want In Yet-To -Be Husbands

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What women want in their yet-to- be husbands matters a lot as far as marriage is concerned.
A woman desires a good fnancial prospect. Interestingly, some modern women place a man’s financial potential as more desirable than they have in the past.
Many decades ago, women ranked it lower on the list. It still comes in after items like love and maturity, but perhaps today’s women realise that a good economic partner is good husband material.
Good health has been an important characteristic for women through the 20th century and remains so these days. One might argue that because we’re living even longer, health plays a huge role in the success of a marriage. Women are anxious to know that their partners are healthy to be able to run the family together.
You discover that in most faith based organisations, would- be couples are mandated to go for medical tests to ascertain their health status as it concerns HIV/AIDS, Genotype and other related ones. This according to stakeholders is to ensure that couples raise healthy families.
Ambition has become less important to women over time, though it still being considered even if women nowadays are thriving in the workforce competing with the male folk. It may be because more women are thriving in the workforce, they want a husband who has earning power but are not looking for him to be the sole provider.
More women want husbands with pleasing disposition. They may not want a man who is always moody. A man who is always cheerful is whom they desire.
Surprisingly, a man’s likes do not rank as high on women’s list of wants as it used to. Until recently, women are more willing to accept a man for who he his, despite the inevitable mood he may be.
Sociability from both men and women rank very high on their marriag material list. And for both sexes, it has been steadily moving up the list for many years. The rise of the “love marriage,” a partnership based on attraction rather than practicalities (like wealth or status) might mean that married couples are more likely to be friends and have mutual circles of friends.
A lot of couples want to associate with others and then socialise. Attending parties of other friends forms part of their marriage requirements.
Women have placed education and intelligence top making it one of their most desirable male traits for decades. This timeline coincides with more and more women receiving college education themselves. Once education becomes important in women’s lives, it is a more attractive trait in potential husbands.
Of course when a woman is educated, she is likely to go for an educated man. When they are gainfully employed, their income boost the family affairs faster.
Today, women are much more attracted to men who are interested in home and family than they ever have been. Men who have desire for their home and children is whom they desire.
After a days job, a man will come home to ensure that his children are comfortable. Because most women today are expecting to be in dual-earner relationships, they want husbands who will be happy and willing to contribute at home. More women today even report that they hope he will take the lead at home.
A woman wants a man who is emotionally stable and mature. Growing big physically is not the issue but maturity in the heart.
Men, too, place a heavy emphasis on a potential wife’s emotional maturity, signaling that it is a key quality for a stable partnership. Women seem to look past appearance to the heart of the matter.
A woman wants a man who is not easily provoked. Dependable character is what some women want in marriage.
Women want husbands that they can count on, and this has not changed in recent years. Yes, women look to their spouses to be lovers and friends, they also want them to be supportive and trustworthy. They want to know that their husbands will be there and remain loyal. Men, too, desire dependable character from their yet-to be wives.
Mutual attraction and love from the first appearance is what they want till they become old.
The highest-rated characteristic women seek from men is mutual attraction and love. Some no longer look for a man who will provide everything, afterall they are also educated and are gainfully employed, they want to be in love.
For some women, even when the man do not provide household needs, the love shown on her is enough. When women had no job prospects and needed to marry, they desired love . The women’s movement has not only helped women pursue careers, it has also given them more choice in love.

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Women

Echoes Of IWD : Need To Invest In Women

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As this year’s Internatinal Women’s Day (IWD) has come and gone, there are calls from different quarters on the need to invest in women so that we can achieve accelerated growth.
It was, indeed, a thing of joy when Rivers Women Unite For Sim, took delivery of large quantities of sanitary towels and some bags of rice provided them for this year’s celebration.
Many young women expressed joy that they got such gesture since some of them have financial problems getting sanitary towels whenever they are on.
Some secondary school students were also lucky to have a share of the benefits. They also got some sanitary towels.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs organised a platform to celebrate and honour the women for the remarkable jobs they perform in their homes and society.
Addressing women on the occasion, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, noted that women from time immemorial have been great pillars in achieving remarkable heights and stressed that IWD across the globe is pivotal all women for the roles they play in bringing, nurturing and sustaining life.
Dr. Uranta said that IWD, which started in 1911 and celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day that provides women a platform to address economic inclusion, participation in political and public life.
She said the day was set aside to look into lack of access to education for the girl-child, gender-based violence, child marriage, child trafficking, harmful cultural practices as well as other challenges facing women around the globe.
The Hon. Commissioner, who described March 8 as a day to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women, emphasised that it is a day that offers women the opportunity to reflect on progressive achievements.
Noting that it is an opportunity to call for change, she stressed that it is also an opportunity to celebrate acts of courage and every achievement made by ordinary women who did extraordinary things and are remembered in history.
She noted that the IWD2024 theme:”Invest In Women, Accelerate Progress”, is timely and apt because according to her, to achieve gender equality, we must ensure that the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women do not elude them.
Her words: ” We must see investing in women as a human right issue and consider investing in women as a social tool to eradicate poverty since women are helpmeet in the homes while a handful are breadwinners in their respective families”.
The commissioner urged women to uphold the deliberate act of investing in themselves, be it furthering formal education, developing a new skill as well as learning a trade.
“Shun idleness, always find something positive and productive to do, regardless of your age, social status and financial capabilities”, she said.
In a paper presentation, Dr. Dabota God’swill Jumbo, reiterated that investing in women would attract good and positive dividends to herself and the society at large and noted that it is essential in addressing poverty, hunger and climate change.
The guest speaker said women need more opportunities in elective and appointive positions, hence the need to encourage and support them in politics.
According to her, when you invest in women, they will be able to create safer environment devoid of gender-based violence.
In a goodwill message, the spokesperson, Rivers Women Unite For Sim, Mrs Charity Deemua appreciated the organisers for making it possible for women to gather and celebrate themselves.
She commended those who created a day like March 8 of every year to celebrate women and regretted that the girl-child was seen as a second-class person decades ago.
The former commissioner, Rivers State House of Assembly Commission, described those who taught it wise for women to celebrate as conquerors, tough and strong.
International Association of World Peace Advocates, a world-class organisation with the United Nations, honoured different categories of women.
In Cross River State, 150 women were empowered with about N15m to boost their small and medium scale businesses.
According to stakeholders, the women empowerment is vital in addressing social, economic and political challenges and will make them self-reliant.
An NGO, Association of Professional Women Engineering Technologists (APWET), said it’s aim is to promote professional excellence among engineering personnel, advocating for women and girl-child education.
With what we saw in terms of response to women’s call on issues affecting them from relevant authorities, we are optimistic that the women will do better whenever they are empowered.
If we must kick out cervical, breast and other forms of cancer in women, underage marriage, prostitution, we must invest in women.
There were goodwill messages from National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC, Nigeria Association of Female Journalists (NAWOJ), among others.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

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