Considering going out in public? Be prepared to witness numerous relationships wherever you may venture. Are these courtships for traditional reasons? Probably not. In a society filled with sex, lust, and pornography, more and more pre-marital relationships arise that don’t show a connection beyond the surface of the skin.

Culture tells us to focus primarily on the outward appearance of someone we are attracted to. Why? Commercialism. Any time an industry can make a quick dollar, especially one fueled by a desire so deeply rooted in our society, beware.

If not outward appearances, where should we look? In the heart and in the mind. Look for someone who makes you think a little harder, forces you to laugh in the hard times, and cares for you more deeply than anyone else. This type of love undoubtedly lasts forever.

It is vital to remember that while beauty fades, traits like selflessness, compassion, and faithfulness last a lifetime. As George Peele, a 16th-century poet, once said, “Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green.”

Has our world’s media revolution solved any of these issues of perception? No. From online dating websites to simply texting, the digital age has only decreased the emphasis we put on the mind and heart while searching for our perfect match. Remember this: Real relationships do not take place over a cell phone or the internet.

We once lived in a world where the aspects of patience and kindness found in a man or woman were craved for. Return them to our society! Remind our nation’s youth that there is more than appearance and that true beauty is not seen with the naked eye.

To those who have been happily married for years, ask yourselves these questions: Why do you love your spouse? How have you grown as a person since your marriage? Why is your partner your best friend? The values expressed in the answers to these simple questions vastly exceed any values related to appearance. As these ideas of inner beauty have faded over time, how will we be certain the next generation knows how to handle the responsibility of a loving relationship?

It is our duty as friends, parents, guardians, and role models to show our peers and descendants what genuine love is. What will you do to promote a deeper respect for love in our corrupt culture? That is something only you can decide.