55 years ago today, at 17 years old, I got married. I had never shopped, cooked a meal, or even done my laundry. Why I believed I could succeed at being a wife, or even understand the role is still a mystery to me. No one told me how totally all-consuming marriage would be. No one said I would suddenly lose my voice and be expected to be happy with it. I was an untrained partner in a job that demands understanding so I failed at marriage. Certainly, I didn’t fail alone. There were two of us, but I am responsible for myself.

If no one else is – churches should have future adult classes! Not only to teach them to be good wives, husbands, and parents but also to be strong Christians and how to bring that understanding into marriage and parenthood.

I know, life demands so much of our time and we do it in a rush but young people only see your business! Don’t do it for them. teach them to do it. One day you too will be the elder looking at their lives. Will they succeed at the things that really matter?

Everything we do, we learn by example – someone did it and taught someone else to do it. If you have young children, teach them to be wives, husbands, fathers, and mothers. These are not jobs anyone should go into blind.

Titus 2 :2 – 7

2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,