Deep Commitment
So, how did these couples defy conventional wisdom? Like me, you might infer that the seeds of their sense of teamwork and mutual respect were present at the time of their young, and perhaps quick, weddings. The seeds took root and grew.
Eckhart even acknowledges this possibility: “Young marriage may just go along with being the kind of person who is ready to commit to an organization (like the military) at a young age.”
It’s impossible to ignore that when any military couple weds, they are committing not only to each other but also to the significant responsibilities of military life.
Reflecting on this, I wonder yet again, what were we thinking? How could we have been equipped to handle all that?
But numerous studies have suggested that military couples’ commitment to communication, acceptance of base marital support and resources and ability to weather rapid operations tempos contribute to the couples’ devotion and fortitude. And, time and time again, military couples are found to be no less committed than their civilian counterparts, despite uniquely challenging circumstances.
Probably I will always look back on our quick dash to the altar with a touch of disbelief. But that’s only before I acknowledge the depth of our relationship and the qualities that have made it, like the marriages described above, so special, and indeed, so strong. They are the qualities that made me sure enough to tell Mike that if we want to be together, we should just be together.
Perhaps you feel the same when you reflect on your own marriage to your service member. Perhaps you answer that question the same way I do:
What were we thinking?
