Marriage as an Ice Cream

(An excerpt from a message delivered during Jayme-de los Reyes Nuptial on May 20, 2009 at Punta Villa, Iloilo City.)

Being married myself for nine years, I can best compare married life to an ice cream. Well, you see, an ice cream has different flavors: mango, ube, buko salad, rocky road, or lately merong very rocky road, and other flavors. Also, ice cream comes in brands like Selecta and Magnolia. May tinatawag rin na limited edition na seasonal lang ang paglabas sa market; meron ding supreme na pinakamahal sa lahat, and the classic one na available in the market at all times.

So how do all these relate to marriage?

1. First, a married life, like an ice cream, has different flavors too. It is loaded with different emotions: joy, bliss, happiness, at syempre hindi talaga mawawala yung “rocky road” na sinasabi nila–mga tampuhan, away-away, petty quarrels. But let this be the flavor that would enhance and strengthen your relationship. After all, kahit ano pang problema ang dumating, lahat yan, matutunaw rin lang katulad ng ice cream.

2. Second, sa pagpapakasal, kailangan kang maging “selecta” or selective of your partner. We’re happy that finally Nonoy has found the right partner in the person of Nelisa to be his life companion. May whatever qualities you have discovered from each and the other deepen your relationship, and draw out the best person in you.

3. Third, marriage is like a Magnolia ice cream. As we know, magnolia is a flower which color is white–so pure. In husband-wife relationship, whatever thoughts you think about your partner, whatever words you speak to your spouse, whatever acts you demonstrate to your better-half, always carry them out with pure, sincere, and good intentions in your heart.

4. Fourth, a life partner is like a “limited edition” ice cream. This means that you have to fully–100 percent–give your loyalty and commitment to your partner. Honesty is a must for a marriage to become successful and lasting.

5. Fifth, married life is also like a “supreme” ice cream. In husband and wife relationship, no one is supreme or above the other. Both are equal and therefore should have mutual respect for each other. Let Christ, the Supreme Being, be the center of your married life and anchor your faith in Him always.

With all of these, your love will be like a “classic” ice cream. Classic in a sense that kahit ano pang different flavors or emotions, problems, that you would face and confront, your relationship is surely to last and will be blessed by Christ.

Congratulations and best wishes to Nonoy and Nelisa!