Marriage and Friends

The title of today’s post is probably does not have to do with what you might think.  I learned yesterday of the importance of keeping your marriage as a top priority in your home.

I finally got around to calling a long time friend.  We had not talked in about a year.  After our conversation was over, and the phones placed back on the dock I had a lot of thinking to do.  When a couple has children the children cannot be the major event of the home.  In this day and age we live this will not be too popular to say; but when you have children the most important thing they need to see is not you keeping them busy and hopping and happy.  The greatest thing you can give your child, other than the message of Christ Jesus, is a good marriage.

Your children need to see Dad loving Mom, respecting Mom, and Mom respecting Dad.  They need to know you two are together forever.  The two of you have made a vow to God, “Until death do us part”.  Your children will grow up and leave home.  You will no longer have them in your arms, and within reach any longer.  Be glad, not sad about that; that is what growing is all about.

I have watched several homes, though not intentionally, but usually from afar.  They have majored on their children, neglected their marriage; then when the children are grown and out on their own the marriage falls apart and they divorce.  These are far too often Christian homes.

Love your children, YES!  Cherish your wife and love her like Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her.  Cherish your husband, love and respect him in the Lord.

Just a note.  Marriage can only be between a man and woman.  Anything else is perversion.

My wife and me celebrated our 38th Anniversary on July 28 and look forward to many more empty nest years together.  Have they all been smooth and trouble free?  No way.  But they have sure been good.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Marriage of a Country Boy and a City Girl

In 1973 a young, teenage country, dairy farmer boy was in love with a beautiful city girl.  The country boy would drive 55 miles every weekend to spend time with her, and stayed the weekend with his cousins who lived a short distance away, so they could go to church together.  It all began in 1972 right after this country boy graduated from High school, and had returned from a trip to Florida with three friends.

She was only fifteen when they started dating, but shortly thereafter turned sixteen.  The country boy was just seventeen, out of school, and no intentions of going on.  Without making the story too long; he proposed to her in December of 1972, and they determined to wait until she graduated from High school.  That, however, was not how it turned out.  They wanted to be together so much that they moved the date up to July of 1973, and married on July 28, 1973.

The wedding took place at Dale Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO.  After five children, and now having 12 grand children [two with Jesus in Heaven] we have been married for a blessed 38 years.  That country boy and city girl of course is Madge and I.  Secret exposed :).

How things have changed in those 38 years.  More couples living together without marriage. They will say things like, “Marriage is only a piece of paper.” or “If we aren’t married then we won’t have to go through all the legalities of divorce when it happens.”  As for the first one it’s much more than a piece of paper; it is a bound, a commitment to one another.  It is held together by much more than a piece of paper or law; it is held together by genuine love, no lust, but love.

Genuine love is much more than “feeling” it is a decision you make when you get up every morning.  I am going to love her/him today, no matter what.  I am going to demonstrate that love, no matter what.  One doing something for the other without expecting anything in return.  Genuine love is a God-like love; sacrificial.  Loving even when the other may show hate.

Madge and I have had our ups and downs, however, for my part it has been thoroughly worth it.  I have learned more about God’s love for me, and for all by our marriage.

As for the second part of what I wrote above;  You have no love, just lust, and it will not last.  You cheapen yourself, you cheapen one another to nothing more than a source of your pleasure.  Most of all you cheapen marriage.  O yeah!  Marriage is between a man [one man] and a woman [one woman].  Faithfulness to one another is a blessing and not a curse.

From the banks of Flat Creek; Happy Anniversary Madge.  I love you today and always.

-Tim