Baggage...*

BBC reports that a village 25 miles from India’s capital, New Delhi, has banned marriages based on love.  From the traditional Indian point of view, love is what comes after marriage, not before.
The marriage partners are chosen by family, then you learn to love the person you’re with.

Falling in love is a passionate feeling; loving in marriage should be based on learning how to behave in ways that lead to care and trust.  Unfortunately, the traditional approach brings along with it a lot of unacceptable baggage.

In the West,  you first fall in love, then marry for that reason.  Some fall in love and never get married. This is a decision made by the couple themselves after getting to know each other. However, this approach is also not without issues. look at US divorce rates.

Somewhere between the two extremes of love before and after lies the proper balance. A marriage needs to start with being in love but not end there. Those who are in enduring relationships learn that loving includes but is not confined to feelings. Love that lasts is based upon actions that reflect mutual respect and care.

A long-lasting marriage combines being in love, which waxes and wanes, with acting with love, which is demonstrated over and over in countless ways large and small. It is not easy. Just a thought.