My husband is out on a date tonight with a tall young blonde…three things which I am not! You might think I would be jealous…well…only about 5% jealous. Tonight is the annual Daddy/Daughter dance and Nathan has whisked our little sweet pea away to dinner with her very best friend from across the street along with her Daddy and sister as well. Of course not until after we did her hair all up and she got to put on makeup and got her fancy dress and high heels on! Needless to say Emalynn was ecstatic…and so am I!
A few weeks ago we saw the movie Courageous with two other couples from our small group. The basis of the movie without giving it away was that through tragedy a man and his friends learned about and then committed to be the men that God expects them to be for their families. The movie was very moving and I would recommend it to any couple who is serious about raising their children in the ways of Christ. After watching it I realized how incredibly thankful I am that God not only graciously gave me a godly father when I had none but also for giving me the man I married. He truly is immeasurably more than I ever dreamed.
Never before have husbands and fathers been under the fire of temptation and not just of sin, materialism and addiction but of complacency…doing just enough to get by. That is not what God expects from any of us as parents but not of fathers especially. Intentionally teaching our children by being godly examples as well as creating meaningful relationships with them is how we can live fully using the Word of God as our guide. To pretend that the temptations to sin that destroys lives and the tendancy to just coast along isn’t there or won’t happen to us is complete and utter denial. We must always be on guard.
Nathan and I have had this on our hearts for quite a while not only for our marriage but for others as well. So many marriages end up destroyed yet we know that with God nothing is beyond repair. We know because we’ve lived it. We began to pray that God would show us what to do. Through a couple we consider mentors we were asked to be a part of a marriage mentor training program through our church. We are learning what it means to come alongside other couples who are where we’re we have been in order to encourage and support them by walking with them, praying with and for them and creating relationships that not only bring them closer to one another and the Lord but us as well. It is so exciting to see how God is already working in our marriage.
It’s nights like tonight when I can’t thank God enough for the amazing gift He’s given me and our children in Nathan. So many husbands and fathers fall prey to temptation under fire. I am so grateful my husband is a man of courage who looks to the Lord for wisdom and guidance and is a godly example to me and our children…and dances with his little girl no matter who is watching.
Wonders of HIS Love 