What's the purpose of marriage?

Before the age of modern religion, men and women existed in harmony for tens of thousands of years.

On a more serious note- In April 2003, my parents celebrated 50 years of marriage. In the middle of a bad storm, with tornadoes in the area, more than 200 friends and family showed up to celebrate with them and witness the renewal of their wedding vows.
Their marriage was far from perfect over the years. no marriage is perfect. But the good outweighed the bad. There was a time that my father even left my mom, and thought he wanted a divorce. But they worked things out.

Two months before their 50th anniversary, they found out my father was dying from liver failure. The doctor gave him 2-3 months. He made it five. During those 5 months, my mother took care of him. While dealing with the fact that she would soon be a widow, she gently took his car key off his key ring when he could no longer drive, yet left him his keys to carry so he could unlock the house door, because 'men need to have keys in their pocket'. She patiently waited for him to dress himself when it took 3 times as long, and when the time came she she had to dress him, and even near the end when she had to bathe him and change his depends, she did so with as much dignity as possible.

You see, my parents made a vow 50 years before. To love and honor, for better and worse, richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do they part. They kept those vows until the day in July when my father took his last breath, in his home, with his devoted wife and children around him. He was not alone. He was very loved, and he passionately loved back.
He left this Earth with none of his 'stuff', his wife got it all. But he carried with him an abundance of love, and left behind a legacy of love and devotion.

Their marriage came with sacrifice, like every good marriage. But that is what you do when you take those vows. You promise to put your spouse's needs and desires ahead of your own. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Not everything in life boils down to money. It's sad to see that mentality, of money being the primary concern.

Unfortunately, too many people (mostly men) got used as walking ATMs when their ex decided he/she just "wasn't happy anymore" so now it has to be thought of.

i wasnt going to respond to this thread (just read and giggle) but wanted to respond to this.

sometimes part of this is men's fault.

it seems like sometimes guys want to pretend that the girl they dated and married mysteriously changed into the woman they divorced when it comes to money. all too often these dudes lead into the relationship with their money and try to impress by taking her out to fancy dinners, helping her out with her bills, taking her on vacations, etc.

these men know that they are getting high maintenance women (and in fact might even like the fact that she always going to salons and keeping her hair and nails done, wearing stylish clothing, etc and helping her pay for all that) yet when it comes times to divorce they yell "that gold digging b*tch!" it's like dude, you wanted a gold digger. you wanted to be an atm machine, so just shut up and keep making it rain.

Not everything in life boils down to money. It's sad to see that mentality, of money being the primary concern.

Unfortunately, too many people (mostly men) got used as walking ATMs when their ex decided he/she just "wasn't happy anymore" so now it has to be thought of.

i wasnt going to respond to this thread (just read and giggle) but wanted to respond to this.

sometimes part of this is men's fault.

it seems like sometimes guys want to pretend that the girl they dated and married mysteriously changed into the woman they divorced when it comes to money. all too often these dudes lead into the relationship with their money and try to impress by taking her out to fancy dinners, helping her out with her bills, taking her on vacations, etc.

these men know that they are getting high maintenance women (and in fact might even like the fact that she always going to salons and keeping her hair and nails done, wearing stylish clothing, etc and helping her pay for all that) yet when it comes times to divorce they yell "that gold digging b*tch!" it's like dude, you wanted a gold digger. you wanted to be an atm machine, so just shut up and keep making it rain.

there is no purpose
just to sleep with one person.
pretty dull,

There's the very common misconception that sleeping with only one person is boring. Puh-leeeeeeease! A couple who has spent years together has had time to learn what pleases their partner. It's anything but boring to have the same partner over a span of years. Unless you think it's exciting to play russian roulette and hope your latest partner didn't leave you with an STD.

At least one couple I know is very open about sleeping with each other, and others. Marriage can be what you and your partner agree it will be.

Sorry, but I have to say if you are asking these questions you are not with or met the right person yet.

Maybe you're right. I haven't found someone I like more than half of all my possessions!

you and that other guy that always posts on all of your misogynistic threads seem to hit it off ... perhaps you should pursue a relationship with him. i'm guessing you share more than just a mutual contempt for women.

I believe God likes it when you are married, sex is also better.

Yes.... because you get so much more sex after you are married...

you're really vile.

i'm not even a "feminist" or a liberal and even i find your constant demeaning of women on thread after thread into mere carnival prizes to be offensive.

King Beta Male finally makes an appearance. Not demeaning women at all, just saying it like it is.

i think you have issues with both men and women.

i'm also too old to pay any attention to this alpha/beta male nonsense that you constantly blather about as well. that's the language of children and i stopped being a child long ago.

No issues with either sex. I have many female friends.

If anyone has a problem with women, it's you. In a majority of your posts on here, you're subtly seeking approval from females on a variety of topics. You refuse to tell it how it is and instead, you post to make yourself look like the "good guy".

This thread is longer than OPs friend's marriage.