You can’t force your parents to get married, of course; they alone must make that decision. You can, however, gently encourage them to take that step—not just to save you from any further awkwardness, but for the sake of their relationship.

After all, what is marriage? Admittedly some people treat it casually (just as they treat divorce casually). But in its deepest sense, marriage is a solemn vow that a husband and wife make before God—a vow to be committed to each other no matter what the future holds, and to help each other and be faithful to each other as long as they live. Pray for your parents, that they’ll discover this truth. Jesus said, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6).

Remember: God gave marriage to us, and He meant it for our good. Although your parents have chosen to remain unmarried, I sincerely hope you won’t follow their example, but will seek God’s will and follow His path as you consider marriage.

Marriage is one of the most important decisions we’ll ever make, and I pray you won’t take it casually when the time comes for you to marry. But right now, you can make an even more important decision—and that is to give your life to Jesus Christ. God loves you, and He wants to make you part of His family forever. Ask Christ to come into your life today. It’s the most important decision you will ever make.

Find out how much God loves you.