Perspective gives parents the right impression of what to expect in the future. Unfortunately, the early years of any marriage is filled with trial and error. As I look back on the first few years of raising my oldest son James, I was out of my element. I don’t do well around crying babies. After screaming for an hour or so in his crib, Leanne or I would drive around the block a few times until James fell back to sleep.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed, Genesis 2:24-25.
As the years passed, sports filled up much of out time, going to baseball games, cross country races, golf matches and track meets. Through the years, I learned that James was motivated by awards, food and money. After achieving an agreed upon goal, the entire family went out to dinner to celebrate this accomplishment. This tradition continues today, often going to Buffalo Wild Wings and our favorite Chinese restaurant. However, after tonight, James will start a new life with his wife to be Emma.
Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself, Ephesians 5:25-28.
The covenant of marriage was first introduced to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The apostle Paul builds upon this concept in a letter to the church at Ephesus. Men are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In a letter to Corinth, Paul uses the term charity. The only way human beings can love one another is through the Holy Spirit. This spiritual presence is only available to those who enter into a personal relationship with God. Thus, if any of you are considering starting a new life, don’t forget to invite Jesus along the way.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 