Some Americans see marriage as something they can go in and out of if it becomes unrewarding or difficult; some see it as unnecessary to their lives. But deep down, most people wish they could have a rewarding lifelong commitment with their spouse.
Marriage, by its very nature, is intended to be a covenant relationship, not consumer relationship. In the midst of many external challenges, we forget how marriage can benefit our personal lives. We are losing our determination and the skills to keep our marriages healthy and strong.
This is a major reason for a new initiative called National Marriage Week USA. The initiative will run this year from February 7 - 14. Surprisingly, several other countries, including the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Australia all have had significant public awareness and activities for National Marriage Week for the last 20 years.
If you hadn't heard about it, the week leading up to Valentine's Day has had some U.S. attention since 2002 by those in the marriage education field. But a new initiative in 2010 seeks to build a broader collaboration and to elevate marriage to the national attention it deserves.
Marriage is in crisis. A new Marriage Index released in October, 2009 reports that in 1970 nearly 80 percent of all adult Americans were married; today that has dropped to 57 percent. The Marriage Index also reports that today 40 percent of all American children are born out of wedlock, with 70 percent of babies in African-American families born without a married mother and father.
Source: FOX News | Sheila Weber
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