- We believe with all our hearts that there is a real need for marriages through God's eyes. Many women and men need this in their latter years, and folks like us, in our late fifty's that have lost our Spouses, have a hard time loosing our benefits that we so enjoy. Christian Mingle played an important part in both my wife and myself in finding our true love. Both of us where widow and widower and we discovered each other's passion for love in us, that we could not avoid it. We were in our mid fifties, she was receiving a disability payment, and if I was suppose to get Social Security on behalf of my late wife when I reached 60. So there was our issue. Our pastor, (not all pastors are willing to do this) was all to willing to help us. We were married on the beach. We did all the customary vows and promises, without turning in the paper to the State. We did our research before we did this undertaking and prayed to God, for answers before we did this. Today, we feel with all our might and with all our hearts that we are married in the eyes of God, like our ancestors did for more than 2000 years before man required a legal documents. I have been Ordained by my Church years ago as a Deacon and both my wife and I are Notaries and can officiate a wedding on behalf of the State of Florida.
God's Eyes MARRIAGE
When Dev retired from the Air Force, part of the out-processing ordeal
was to meet with a very nice man who explained to us the advantages of the
Survivor Benefit Plan. Because he served for twenty years, Dev will receive
retirement from the moment he came off active duty until he dies. As far as I
can tell through the confusion, if Dev dies first, I will receive a percentage
of his retirement pay unless and until I remarry before the age of 55. I will
also be eligible for Tricare (the military health insurance program) unless I
remarry. So, if Dev dies in some (heroic, naturally) manner and I find someone
else to spend the rest of my life with who will keep me out of JT's basement
apartment, I lose a lot of money if we marry.
There is an alternative, which is becoming more and more common. A friend in
her 70s depends on her late husband's military retirement medical care. She's
had at least one emergency heart surgery and her joints just aren't what they
used to be. She met an absolutely wonderful man who willingly goes with her on
missions trips to China and actually doesn't mind that the dear woman can
out-talk an 8-year-old girl on Mt. Dew. They travel, her kids adore him, and
seeing them together is just delightful.
But as far as we can tell, although they had a wedding in a church, they didn't
file the marriage certificate. If they had, there might be no more traveling,
as a substantial amount of money would have to be spent on health care. Their
reasoning is their quality of life and independence requires not having
a marriage license. And since they said their vows in a church in front of God
and everyone, they're married in God's eyes, so the government needn't worry about
it.
This isn't unusual — in fact, it's a growing trend among older Americans. Beyond the concerns
about children's inheritances and loss of widow/widower benefits, married
couples may be pushed into a higher tax bracket, lose scholarship money for
their kids, and be responsible for the debts of a new spouse who may not live
that long. Just living together, perhaps with a stack of powers of attorney,
simplifies things.
What does the Bible say? Nothing direct.