Dear Faithmate Ethics Advisor,
My girlfriend of six months and I spent Christmas apart, with each of us visiting our respective families in the Midwest (we live in Los Angeles). She says that it felt wrong not being together at this time of year and that since we are a couple, from now on, we should spend Christmas together. I’m not against this, but I’m just wondering: Since we are not married, at what point in a relationship should people start to spend holidays together?
As a Christian, what would you do and why?
Faithmate’s Ethics Advisor says…
Traditionally, once you are married, and therefore your own “family,” it is expected that a couple will place the primary importance on being with one another during the holidays…likely visiting both families of origin if they are lucky enough to live close by. However, as your girlfriend points out, sometimes it feels right to do this sooner. Therefore, my answer is that there is no set answer: Whenever both people feel the relationship has progressed to the point where there is a sense of family between them is the right time to make this transition (and therefore, maybe time to think about moving from “girlfriend” to “fiancée”).
Of course, this is just one opinion! As a Christian, do you agree or disagree? Post your comments below…
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