Marriage Counseling

I remember when I was working at Chapin Baptist Church, our senior pastor spoke one day on boundaries and he said, "We don't have boundaries because we have problems, but because we don't want problems." I really believe that is so true for all the different aspects of our lives. We don't want financial problems so we have a budget. We don't want moral problems so we have accountability. We don't want our kids growing up with behavioral problems so we give them consistent discipline. We don't want car trouble so we do tune-ups. We don't want marriage problems so we go to counseling.

Or even better a marriage conference at Ridgecrest! I would have to say my mom and dad are going to leave a pretty big legacy when they step into heaven. They have been a part of countless stories of peoples relationship with God from church leadership to mission trips to personal evangelism. But bigger than those things are their impact on their kids families.

And each year for the past three years my mom and dad have sent Mercy and myself, my brother Michael and Brittany, and my sister Michelle and Mark to the Fall Festival of Marriage at Ridgecrest NC.

There are big name speakers who specialize in communication and family ministry that lead the weekend. There are breakout classes with a variety of class topics from "Igniting the Sheets" (wont mention whose favorite that is) to "Disciplining Kids" to "Managing your Expectations" All helping husbands and wives step into the biblical roles of marriage and family.

Mercy and I always take away good points to discuss and talk about, ways to improve our teamwork and love. And I know that each year, each argument and apology, each diverted grudge and act of service and love is building not only the bricks and mortar of our spiritual house but enriching Eden and all her siblings that may come and all the influence we can have with other couples down the road.

I love my wife. I wouldn't want any other woman by my side for sure. I love my kid and doubt I will leave her for a 3 day weekend for quite some time although she did good, Mom and Dad missed her way too much! I love my family and being able to get away. And I love my mom and dad who want more than anything for their kids to have a good family, a joyous marriage and a God honoring life. I thank God I had two parents that have modeled that every step of the way.

So here's to being intentional and picking family over everything else in the world. May God bless mine and my leadership of it.