Keith and I teach a class called Preparation for Marriage and Parenting. Below are a few comments we throw in during these classes that are not in the lesson book we compiled, but which probably ought to be. For what they are worth…
Headship is not about getting to do whatever you want to do. It is about carefully considering the needs of the entire family and doing what is best for them, whether it is what you want to do or not.
Any woman who has difficulties with subjection has difficulties with being a Christian. Submission is what being a disciple of Christ is all about.
A man who makes subjection difficult for his wife might as well get himself sized for a millstone.
There are many different ways to handle problems in a marriage. The first and most important thing you should do is make up your minds that you will make it through this. Never keep a divorce lawyer on your speed dial.
It doesn’t matter whether you understand women or not. It doesn’t matter whether you understand men or not. What matters is understanding that your spouse does not think like you do.
If you ladies are going to use your hormones as an excuse for bad behavior, then you should allow your husband to use male hormones as an excuse for his.
Marriage is a high maintenance relationship. As soon as you start neglecting it, it will go downhill.
Spouses who do not communicate well and on a regular basis will soon be total strangers.
Letting her talk is useless if you don’t listen.
Your children are not your own. They are merely souls God has given into your care, and He expects them to be returned in good shape.
You are teaching your children whether you intend to or not. What textbook are you using? Look in the mirror.
Make no mistake about it—you are waging a war with your toddlers, which you should win before they reach school age. Any time you “give in,” you have lost a battle and retaking that territory will take twice as long at twice the cost to your relationship with your child.
Too many parents don’t train their children, their children train them.
A father who won’t change dirty diapers probably won’t be much use to his children when the messes of life afflict them either.
If you tell your child, “If you do that again, I am going to _________ you,” and then don’t ______them when they do it again, you have lied to your child.
Don’t tell me that a child is too young to comprehend punishment before the age of 2. My child is smarter than any puppy dog I ever saw. So is yours.
Raising kids is hard work. Our society and its children are suffering from parents who were either too lazy or too selfish to do the job right.
Gleaning in the field sometimes gives you choice produce that was simply overlooked. Other times there is a reason it was left there. So this morning choose from the list and take what is most helpful.
Except Jehovah build the house they labor in vain that build it…Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate, Psalm 127:1, 3-5.
Dene Ward
Headship is not about getting to do whatever you want to do. It is about carefully considering the needs of the entire family and doing what is best for them, whether it is what you want to do or not.
Any woman who has difficulties with subjection has difficulties with being a Christian. Submission is what being a disciple of Christ is all about.
A man who makes subjection difficult for his wife might as well get himself sized for a millstone.
There are many different ways to handle problems in a marriage. The first and most important thing you should do is make up your minds that you will make it through this. Never keep a divorce lawyer on your speed dial.
It doesn’t matter whether you understand women or not. It doesn’t matter whether you understand men or not. What matters is understanding that your spouse does not think like you do.
If you ladies are going to use your hormones as an excuse for bad behavior, then you should allow your husband to use male hormones as an excuse for his.
Marriage is a high maintenance relationship. As soon as you start neglecting it, it will go downhill.
Spouses who do not communicate well and on a regular basis will soon be total strangers.
Letting her talk is useless if you don’t listen.
Your children are not your own. They are merely souls God has given into your care, and He expects them to be returned in good shape.
You are teaching your children whether you intend to or not. What textbook are you using? Look in the mirror.
Make no mistake about it—you are waging a war with your toddlers, which you should win before they reach school age. Any time you “give in,” you have lost a battle and retaking that territory will take twice as long at twice the cost to your relationship with your child.
Too many parents don’t train their children, their children train them.
A father who won’t change dirty diapers probably won’t be much use to his children when the messes of life afflict them either.
If you tell your child, “If you do that again, I am going to _________ you,” and then don’t ______them when they do it again, you have lied to your child.
Don’t tell me that a child is too young to comprehend punishment before the age of 2. My child is smarter than any puppy dog I ever saw. So is yours.
Raising kids is hard work. Our society and its children are suffering from parents who were either too lazy or too selfish to do the job right.
Gleaning in the field sometimes gives you choice produce that was simply overlooked. Other times there is a reason it was left there. So this morning choose from the list and take what is most helpful.
Except Jehovah build the house they labor in vain that build it…Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate, Psalm 127:1, 3-5.
Dene Ward