Sample Non Scriptural Readings
On Marriage
Marriage is a commitment to life - to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life. When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. -Edmund O’Neill
The Art of Marriage
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage: The little things are the big ones. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner
From The Prophet on Marriage by Kahil Gibran
Then Almitra spoke again and said,
And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and
together you shall be forever more.
You shall be together
when the white wings of death
scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together
even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces
in your togetherness,
and let the winds
of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another
but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea
between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup
but drink from one cup.
Give one another of your bread
but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together
and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone,
even as the strings of a lute
are alone though they quiver
with the same music.
Give your hearts,
but not into each other keeping.
For only the hand of Life
can contain your hearts.
And stand together,
yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple
stand apart,
and the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.
Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love ~Edmund O'Neill
Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener and critic. And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly and passes away more quickly.Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfil.
Wedding Reading
You share today the joy of a deep commitment
And a sacred trust, and you have given each other
The most precious gift of love
Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it
With all the honesty you used in creating it
You are sharing something rare and beautiful
Always speak the truth and listen attentively
So that you may understand each others thoughts and intentions
Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments
Say I love you often to retain the warmth between you
Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry
Remember you are each other's best friend
Stand together and for each other always
May each day be a blessing
And the fulfilment of your dreams.
Sharing
There is no greater happiness than that of sharing life,
With all its joys, and all its cares, as a loving man and wife.
For love gives life new meaning, and has a special way
Of growing stronger, and deeper, with every passing day.
Yes, life is so much happier and brighter when you're sharing
The very special joys that come with loving and giving and caring.
The Journey
Two friends decided to journey together towards a common destination. Before they began their journey they share their expectations as follows: There will be days, my friend, when one will want to walk along the mountain path, whilst the other may prefer the valley, but we will come together at the end of the day and share our experiences. There will be days when one will want to sing and dance, whilst the other will prefer to travel in quietness, so we will choose different paths, but we will meet at the close of the day and be content with our experiences. There will be days when one may want to rest, whilst the other may want to move further along the path, but at the right time we will come together and be happy that each has fulfilled their own needs. There will be days when we shall travel together as one. If we can respect the other's need whilst still fulfilling our own, then our journey will be an experience to rejoice in.
On Marriage
Marriage is a commitment to life - to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life. When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. -Edmund O’Neill
The Art of Marriage
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage: The little things are the big ones. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner
From The Prophet on Marriage by Kahil Gibran
Then Almitra spoke again and said,
And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and
together you shall be forever more.
You shall be together
when the white wings of death
scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together
even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces
in your togetherness,
and let the winds
of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another
but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea
between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup
but drink from one cup.
Give one another of your bread
but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together
and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone,
even as the strings of a lute
are alone though they quiver
with the same music.
Give your hearts,
but not into each other keeping.
For only the hand of Life
can contain your hearts.
And stand together,
yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple
stand apart,
and the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.
Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love ~Edmund O'Neill
Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener and critic. And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly and passes away more quickly.Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfil.
Wedding Reading
You share today the joy of a deep commitment
And a sacred trust, and you have given each other
The most precious gift of love
Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it
With all the honesty you used in creating it
You are sharing something rare and beautiful
Always speak the truth and listen attentively
So that you may understand each others thoughts and intentions
Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments
Say I love you often to retain the warmth between you
Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry
Remember you are each other's best friend
Stand together and for each other always
May each day be a blessing
And the fulfilment of your dreams.
Sharing
There is no greater happiness than that of sharing life,
With all its joys, and all its cares, as a loving man and wife.
For love gives life new meaning, and has a special way
Of growing stronger, and deeper, with every passing day.
Yes, life is so much happier and brighter when you're sharing
The very special joys that come with loving and giving and caring.
The Journey
Two friends decided to journey together towards a common destination. Before they began their journey they share their expectations as follows: There will be days, my friend, when one will want to walk along the mountain path, whilst the other may prefer the valley, but we will come together at the end of the day and share our experiences. There will be days when one will want to sing and dance, whilst the other will prefer to travel in quietness, so we will choose different paths, but we will meet at the close of the day and be content with our experiences. There will be days when one may want to rest, whilst the other may want to move further along the path, but at the right time we will come together and be happy that each has fulfilled their own needs. There will be days when we shall travel together as one. If we can respect the other's need whilst still fulfilling our own, then our journey will be an experience to rejoice in.