 | |
| Clipart found on hawaiidermatology.com |
So we’ve been struggling
with the question of whether we’re getting through to our children’s hearts. Do
they really hear what we’re telling them?
One of our goals is to
teach our children the sanctity of marriage. We believe God made one woman for
each man and that He will bring the two together when the time is right. Toward
that goal we have been teaching our children that they belong to their spouse
right now. And that they must keep themselves pure both emotionally and
physically. There will be no dating in this house. But neither will we arrange
their marriage (though I do have a candidate in mind for each-I can’t help
myself!).
And so we have been
planting seeds. We’ve been instructing them on the roles of a spouse according
to Scripture. What does God demand of a husband and father? What does it look
like to be a Godly wife and mother?
Well the other day the
children were playing a game when I heard Little Big Boy Man asking Sweetie Pie
#1 if he could marry her. TEACHABLE MOMENT! My husband was right on it. He
called the children to his side and ran through what should happen. He told Sweetie
Pie #1 that if any man approaches her and wants to spend time with her or asks
to marry her, she is to say “Go talk to my Dad.” He told Little Big Boy Man
that if he is ever interested in spending time or marrying a woman, he must
first come to us and then to her father. He then proceeded to pepper Little Big
Boy Man with questions about his relationship with God, his family, his ability
to care for our daughter, and why he wanted to spend time/marry her.
Naturally, he had no
answers to these questions, so my husband began to tell him why these things
are important. We talked about guarding your heart, preparing yourself for
marriage and family, and the realities of family life. I will admit that it
could have been more information than was needed, but if only a small portion
sunk in right now I’ll consider it a job well done.
Now when we hear “Can I
marry you?”, we also hear “Go talk to my Dad.” Then Little Big Boy Man
dutifully presents himself before my husband.
Once, when the scenario
was playing itself out, Little Big Boy Man refused to come speak to my husband
and instead insisted she marry him anyway. Sweetie Pie #1 went screaming from
the room!
