Defining Your Relationship - Marriage or Friendship

What is your definition of a beautiful, honest, and meaningful relationship?

In the poet Kahlil Gibran's famous book The Prophet, there is a passage on marriage.

This passage is a brilliant philosophy for marriage, but also relevant for any relationship based on love, joy and sorrow, time, friendship and much more.

Many relationships wind up unhappy and eventually finish in failure because of too much controlling expectations and demands set upon each other in the relationship.

Partners in any relationship must honor and respect the equality, individuality and independence of each other in order that the relationship remain successful and enjoyable. No one must own or control anyone, because we are all equal in the eyes of our Creator.

Here is Gibran's famous passage for your enjoyment:

On Marriage

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same Loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

~ The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran ~


Photo from Pinterest.com