We believe many factors contribute to successful, biblical parenting. Of all those factors, perhaps, second only to the spiritual health and maturity of each parent, is the health and maturity of your marriage.

Parenting and your marriage relationship are inextricably coupled. They were never meant to be held in isolation, compartmentalized or operated exclusively of each other. God in His infinite wisdom designed it that way - as is so often the case, for our good and His glory.

Surprisingly, it seems to us so many modern parenting books and expert advice leave that fundamental out, or give it only passing attention. Instead, choosing to primarily focus on the child and his conduct, or perhaps, the parent-child relationship. Seldom is the parent-parent relationship, i.e. the marriage, central to the parenting message. Odd. Tragic.

Regardless of the popularity of the idea, we believe it is central to parenting well. You’ll find much of our encouragement and instruction for parents reflecting that belief - rooted in the strengthening of personal faith, and in turn, the marriage.

Godly parenting flows through that conduit: the heart of the parent through the heart of the marriage into the hearts of the children. Any other configuration is a distortion, weaker and certainly less effective.

Over the years we’ve collected mental notes based on our personal experiences as well as observations we’ve made of others. One thing we’ve seen are ways a husband and wife can make a positive impact on the capability of their spouse to parent well. Ways one spouse can set the other up to parent successfully.

Expect to see some future blogs that will build on this foundation as we share from our mental notebook on this topic.

Tags: encouragement, home life, husbands and fathers, marriage, peace, priorities, identity, oneness, unity, wives and moms