Models of good marriages are books in clothes. ~John Ensor in Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart
I want to live out a good, Godly marriage before our children. As the above quote implies, our children can learn more about how a marriage works by watching how my husband and I interact than they can from reading about it in a book.
How can I live out a good marriage before my children? Here are a few ideas I’m working on.
1. Show respect in my words and actions. This means not talking badly about him (either in his presence or when he’s not around), but using my words to build my husband up to our daughters. Just as importantly, my attitudes and actions should demonstrate respect for his position as my husband.
2. Selfless living. I can put his needs ahead of my own. This one hurts! At the end of the day, in my flesh, I most want to please myself. However, marriage is about sacrifice and loving someone else enough to put them first.
3. Seek to have Holy Spirit-filled reactions. Rather than responding in the flesh to things he says or does that I don’t like, I can take a minute to pray for wisdom in my response. This reminds me of Proverbs 31:26, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Rather than offer a quick retort or speak angry words, I can be calm and measured in my reaction.
One of my prayers for our daughters is that they would have happy, Christ-centered marriages. It can be a help to them in the future if my husband and I are living out what that looks like in front of them now.
Do you have other ideas for how we can model good marriages to our children?
I think showing your children how you and your husband pray or ready God's Word together is another good one. Also, showing how you work out a situation when you are upset w/ each other so they can see that you do get upset but you work to resolve it as well.
Emily,
Yes, I definitely think it's important that our children see us interacting together in our spiritual walk. Great one to add to the list!!