Marriage is a term that is taken advantage of in today’s American society, but not for Campus Crusade intern Lauren Sandifer who is about to tie the knot. Sandifer is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi and is currently on staff with Campus Crusade ministries at the university.
W. Bradford Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia believes that marriage is becoming more popular and more successful for Americans with a stable family background and a college degree. Wilcox agrees that children who are raised in a strong and stable environment are more likely to get a college degree.
Sandifer is a mentor to many students at Ole Miss and guides them spiritually in their walk with Christ. Her outlook on marriage is based off of God’s plan and the way he designed marriage.
“We grow up thinking of marriage as a fantasy where the husband and wife live happily ever after but what we fail to realize is that it is something you always have to work at. In our world today, divorce is so common and having affairs are not a huge deal. Cheating on your spouse is considered a sin and we think of it so casually,” Sandifer said.
The newly engaged intern knows that marriage is not all bells and whistles. She knows that it will be a challenge to share her everyday life with someone else and to not make every decision with selfish ambition.
“I am so excited to share my life with Ben but I know that we will not make it if we don’t keep the Lord first in our lives. I believe that no marriage will last if it isn’t centered around Christ and that will definitely be something that Ben and I will always have to remind ourselves,” said Sandifer.
Marriage is rushed in so many relationships and it is a life decision. Many couples go into their marriage thinking that divorce is always an option.
“Marriage should be something where you go into it thinking that it is for life, for better or for worse and that is taken advantage of. You have to fight for your marriage at some points but I will never give up no matter how tough things get. When it comes to raising a family, children grow up seeing the way their parents treat each other. I was so blessed to be raised by such loving parents who cared for each other and that is what I want for my children as well,” Sandifer said.
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