I've seen plenty of articles, quotes, etc. that are centered on the idea that you should wait for a man who loves God, and one that loves God even more than you. I think that having a relationship where you and your significant other put God first is a wonderful thing. However, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to wait for a man like that.

I'm a Catholic and know only the Catholic faith. When I was younger, I thought it would be awesome to marry another Catholic or at least a religious man. I thought we'd take our kids to church, baptize them, see them get first holy communion, and just watch them grow up knowing God. However, my entire outlook on this changed when I met my boyfriend during our freshman year of college.

My boyfriend has gone to church before, but he does not go every week nor does he belong to a faith. Do you know what I realize? That is perfectly OK. I learned quickly that not following a faith does not make anyone less than a man. It doesn't mean their love isn't as pure as one who believes in God.

Even though my boyfriend doesn't believe in a faith doesn't mean his love isn't pure. He treats me so well, encourages me, and believes in me. He respects me and respects my faith. Even though he doesn't go to church, he will still talk to me about my faith. I honestly could not thank God for placing such an amazing man in my life.

The more I reflected, I realized that there are a lot of marriages in my family that weren't built upon God, and they have lasted for years and still continue to hold strong. My Pap Pap and Grammy have been married for over 50 years, and my Pap Pap never goes to church while my Grammy does every single Sunday. My one Aunt and Uncle go to our church with their kids, but my Uncle is technically not a part of the Catholic faith. Their relationship is just as strong as the day they got married.

People think that just because you date a religious person it makes everything so amazing. That is by no means the case. I've seen Christians who cannot hold a healthy relationship with other Christians. Also, relationship dynamics are determined by the individuals' personalities, lifestyles, morals, etc. Relationships are built upon so much more than just religion.

Don't get me wrong- if you find someone where you two can build your marriage on faith and God, that is a splendid thing and I'm happy for you. On the other hand, if your relationship doesn't include God that much, I respect that, too.

My family and even my own relationship has proved that there is more to relationships than just religion. You should find someone that makes life so much more enjoyable and bearable. Someone that puts you first, but also understands when you put them first. You want to date and ultimately marry someone who makes life feel special every day.

You should wait until you find the one who completes your life, not the one who completes solely your spiritual journey.