Hebrews 13:4, "Let marriage be held in honor among all." Ephesians 5:33, "Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Think

The most important gift any father or mother can give their children is a healthy marriage. Kids don't care what kind of car dad or mom drive, how big their house is, or what kind of clothes they wear. Children want and need a safe and loving environment. They want quality time with a mom and dad who are in love and committed to one other. The key to a successful family is creating a marriage-centered home. This sets the bar as a model for the children. As husbands and wives prioritize their relationship, the children gain a sense of stability and assurance. Children are secure when Mom and Dad are secure! When life gets out-of-control-busy, it's easy to place marriage on the back burner - not a smart choice because, so goes the marriage, so goes the family. Couples who prioritize serving one another produce healthy families. Put the marriage first and watch the family flourish. It's a simple matter of first things first!

Act

Is your home a marriage-centered home or a child-centered home? Who comes first: the kids or your spouse? Take time today to truly reflect on your marriage and your family. As you find areas that need to change, commit to making those changes as soon as possible.

Pray

Dear God, I don't always live as though my marriage is a priority. I want my home to be a marriage-centric. I choose to place my spouse before all others, including the kids. Help me to trust that, by putting my marriage first, my family will flourish. In Jesus' name, Amen.