dear daughters: the goal of marriage

dear daughters … is a series where I talk to my girls about stuff. I’d like to invite you to talk about stuff too. Today, the goal of marriage.

dear daughters,

When your dad and I met in high school and started dating, I knew I was in love. And then years later when he proposed, I knew I wanted to get married. I wanted the whole thing: wedding, marriage, house and kids. But in truth, I didn’t exactly understand God’s goal in marriage. Had no idea what it would look like in practice. God’s goal is not a couple with a cute little house or a carload of kids. It’s for a man and wife to become one.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

And that, my dear daughters, is truly a God-sized goal. One that doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work. A lot of mutual submission. And a lot of prayer.

Your grandparents on both sides of the family lived out over fifty years of being one. Through good times and bad times. Celebration and heartache.

I want fifty plus years of marriage like Mimi and Papa. Like Mimom and G-dad.

My prayer – and your dad’s – is that our marriage will last a lifetime. Because of course, it’s good for us. But it’s also good for you and the generation that follows.

And I never posted this. But this video from your brother’s wedding just one year ago this weekend … it encapsulates a first right step in marriage.

I’m so grateful for you Amy Davis ~ praying with you and Will for many more!

photo: kate stafford