10 Questions to ask yourself before getting married

Many times we think that marriage is supposed to be perfect and if it isn't, it's time to get a divorce. We quickly forgot the vows we made before God. After being married for more than eight years, I look back and think that if they had given me a glimpse of some of the things that happened in my marriage, I would still have been married. Although these things really strengthened my marriage if I knew what I know now, I would have been better prepared.

"I learned that marriage is more than a ceremony and more than a diamond ring, a white dress, and a great fancy wedding, marriage is a ministry!"

- Extracts from "Let man not separate: marriage is a ministry", written by Regina Mincey

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself before getting married. If you answer no to any of these questions, you may want to rethink your decision to marry and prepare yourself a little more.

1. If we lose everything we had due to a reckless decision made by my spouse, would we still be married?

2. If my spouse had a serious accident and lost a member or became disfigured, would we still be married?

3. If my spouse were arrested and sentenced to several years in prison, would we still be married?

4. If I found out that my partner was cheating on me, would we still be married?

5. If I find out that my partner has taken us into a big debt without my knowledge and that I have several people, would we still be married?

6. If I find out that my partner has AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease, would we still be married?

7. If I found out that my partner had other children I didn't know before and that we had to support them financially, would we still be married?

8. If my spouse's children or parents were to move with us, would we still be married?

9. If my spouse's job or profession required a lot of his time, would we still be married?

10. If I found out that my partner had alcohol, gambling, drug or other addiction problems, would we still be married?

These are very difficult questions, but things like this happen every day at weddings. While there are so many positive things that come with marriage, these are realities that can happen to anyone. Until I can honestly say yes to all of these questions, marriage should not be an option.