5 Reasons To Put A Ring On It

Weddings Ahoy! We all love the thought of weddings, ladies especially. Those bright warm colours, the fanfare, confetti sprays, abundant smiles and not to forget the wining and dining and dancing and rocking and opening of gifts all take our minds back to a world where ‘happily ever after’ ended all love tales. Thanks to Walt Disney, and his fecund imagination, we long for that.


But then fairytales always remain in the books, and the Naija tales are just a shade of them. Marriages are a lot serious, and many refuse to take those steps. A scary lot of reasons make us all weak-kneed, and lily-livered when the time becomes right and ripe for the plucking of the marriage fruit. They range from fear, lack of funds, a direct refusal to give up our freedom, and then that sneaky feeling that reminds you that you’re about to be committed forever, and who wants that? Not us! Let’s ignore the boring sex (just kidding. maybe not), but there are also reasons, good logical reasons why putting a ring on the fingers of your Yori Yori should be done. With speed and romantic thanksgiving. Let’s  take a walk friend, while I unburden my pre-matrimonial wisdom and make you take those steps because…

1. Who Says Fairytales Don’t Exist?

 Princess Daydream meets Prince Charming, they look right into their eyes, fight a bit, laugh a bit, hold hands and sing mushy songs, exchange flowers, poems, recharge cards, gifts, and go intimate. 

Then Cupid (that baby-god of love), adds his blessings to their union, and poof! They ride into the sunset and live happily ever-after. That can be you! I know you’re scared that your marriage won’t be happy, and you want assurances that it will. But come on! It’s a leap of faith, and since you can’t see the future, I see no reason why you shouldn’t embrace it, give it your best shot, and hope for the best. Pray, if you must, but go into it. Dare to believe that in the end, happily ever after will be your portion, and it will work. I hope.

2. Kids

 
(singing),♫ I  believe in angels, something good in every kid I see♫…

I kinda mixed up the lyrics for that one, because a sole reason why putting a ring on it is important because then you’ll be able to have kids, legitimately. Your life is flawed, and you regret a lot of things, but then another chance to recreate a younger, faster, fresher you springs up from your loins, and you have to take it.

You can get knocked up, or knock a girl up, but then without a home, you deny those children, your children, the complete childhood package, and that might make them flawed for life. You don’t want that.

You want your kids to grow up big, strong, and successful, but then if you don’t put a ring on it, and give them the benefit of a healthy home and a balanced childhood, 20 years  later you might not be the father of that successful university graduate. You might wind up being ‘Papa and Mama’ of that guy who hangs in front of school gates with oversized trousers and dirty shirts, and a bag full of marijuana…growing, selling, and smoking.

3. Societal Acceptance

 Na Naija we dey o. I know a lot of people will definitely point me to some distant western society where the bonds of matrimony are loose, and the society has metamorphosed with a philosophy that doesn’t exactly put value in marriages, but where I come from, the reverse is the case. A man or a woman who’s advanced and unmarried will be seen maladjusted, a person without bearing, a misfit. Your friends, family, and acquaintances might be too polite to point this out, but then you’ll still feel it. That passing stare when you introduce yourself to a stranger, that awkward moment when you’re called a Missus, or your wife is asked about and you scratch your bald head, give a nervous laughter and say ‘Um, em, ur, I’m not married yet.” Imagine.

4. Companionship Even in Old Age

We don’t want to grow old, cold, and alone. We want to care about our rickety bones and receding hairlines when we hit our 70s. We want plenty of laughter, affection and care when we grow old, and that can be insured by putting a wee lil’ ring on it. Get married, take the step, it’s not just companionship during the heydays, it’s for insurance when the years run down, and the bones go weak.

5. We Love God

In the end, it all comes down to this one. In all conventional religions, marriage forever is encouraged. Some religions love the idea of man and wife so much that they even get to extend it selflessly to include Man and Wife, Man and Wives, Men and Wife, You know the drills. Also, the idea of a man and woman together makes the Supreme Being glow with joy, and since we love Him, isn’t it awesome that we do this one thing? For Him and for us? For Humanity?

And for the atheist, cause and effect tells you that for the world to be sustainable, procreation is a must. That’s why you’re wired by evolution to possess an innate desire to have a partner, not for sex, but for companionship. Science also supports this.

So go get a ring, call that special human, and put it on it. And for the females, don’t play games with the ring, it has your name on it!
Happy Married Life!