I remember the day my mother told me she would rather I marry a poor and ugly man than a rich and handsome one.
I had never heard anything like it before.
It was the most unexpected advice she had ever given me. I was shocked and even a little offended at first. Who was she to tell me who I should or shouldn’t marry?
In my mind, I was thinking: “Why would she give me such a ridiculous piece of advice?” After all, I had grown up being told that looks and money were important for a successful marriage. But my mother’s words kept lingering in my head.
I decided to ask her to explain why she thought this way. She told me the importance of marrying someone who is kind, understanding, supportive, and reliable. Someone that is willing to go through thick and thin with you, no matter what.
She said: “When you marry a poor man, you will have to work together to build a life. When you marry a rich man, you may enjoy a luxurious life, but you will never know if it was you who earned it or if it was his money that did it.”
“But what about the looks?” I asked her. She replied: “Beauty is something that fades over time; it doesn’t last forever. But true love, trust, and understanding will last forever. That’s the kind of man you should look for.”
I was taken aback by her words. I had never thought of it that way before. After all, I had been raised with the belief that looks were essential for a successful marriage.
But my mother’s words made me think about what I truly wanted out of a relationship. I had to ask myself: Do I want a man who is rich and handsome, but who I can’t truly rely on? Or do I want a man who may not be attractive or wealthy, but who will be there for me no matter what?
The answer was clear. I wanted someone who I could trust and rely on. I wanted someone who I could build a life with and not just enjoy a luxurious one.
So, I decided to take my mother’s advice and look for a man who may not be rich or handsome, but who is kind, understanding, supportive, and reliable. I wanted someone who I could trust and rely on. Someone who I could build a life with.
I am glad I took my mother’s advice, because it has made all the difference. I have found true love and happiness with the man I married. He may not be rich or handsome, but he is the most loving and supportive person I have ever known.
My mother was right—true love, trust, and understanding last forever. And that is what I found with my husband.