Saturday was a very happy day for our family. Our 27 year old son Philip married Melanie-Joy Robinson in a lovely, moving ceremony followed by a bubbling reception. The couple had put much thought and care into the whole day. Many commented on the church service, including the address given by Revd John Burrell. He described the different meanings of the Greek words for ‘love’ – agápe (brotherly love), éros (romantic love), philía (friendship), and storgē (affection) – pointing out that all are needed.

Living as I do in a culture where marriage is less and less common, I was stirred to see Phil and Mel making a life-long commitment to one another. I think it touched all of us in the church.

I was honoured to be asked by the couple to be the M.C. (Master of Ceremonies) of the reception. Much to the disapproval of my wife, I insisted on weaving in a few corny jokes. “In the first year of marriage,” one of these goes, “the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they BOTH speak and the NEIGHBOURS listen.”

But, seriously, listening – really listening – to one another from the word go is an important precept for any partnership. I don’t claim to be good at it. But I do think that a decision Elisabeth and I took early in our marriage, that we would not go to sleep with important things left unsaid, has contributed to our feeling that married life just gets better and better.

Some children were asked for their comments on the great debate: is it better to be single or married? Will, aged 7, responded: “It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble.” I sympathise but hope he ended up happily married. It is a wonderful blessing.