Thursdays in the Truth: and the two became one...

I absolutely love romantic comedies!  I love them more than macho action-adventure, or sappy dramas or thoughtful foreign films.  I suppose I’m like the stereotypical girl.  I love to see the people who are perfectly imperfect realize they were in love the whole time.  I’ve watched, and memorized, more than I can count.  My obsession probably began with Sixteen Candles.  Since then, I have fallen in love with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.  Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were so cute in 50 First Dates and they made me laugh in The Wedding Singer.  I was super excited to see their new movie Blended.  If you haven’t seen it, don’t worry, I won’t spoil the ending. 

In this movie, both Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore play single parents with very different home lives. We meet them on a horrible first date and then follow them on a crazy family vacation to an African resort.  Hilarity ensues.  Let me first say that I loved this movie.  It totally fit the description of a romantic comedy.  However, I was struck by something the two main characters said to each other.  One of them said you have to give your kids 100% of yourself.  The other responded that you actually give them 99% and save that 1% for yourself.  I know they are both single and their situation looks different than mine but it got me thinking.

I thought about my life.  I don’t give my kids 100% of myself and I’m not ashamed.  When my kids ask who my favorite is, I always tell them daddy is my favorite.  And I believe that is the way God intended it.  God first, spouse second, kids third.  My kids know I love them beyond their comprehension, but I love daddy first. 

See, in Genesis, in the creation story, woman was made from a piece of man.  This is not a case of God “upcycling.”  It was very intentional.  God is never random, but always thoughtful.  He planned this to be a symbol for marriage. 

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”   Genesis 2:24

One flesh!  Physically we are obviously separate and not conjoined twins or anything.  I chose my husband to be my partner till death do us part.  My children were a gift from God that came from my body, but they will ultimately leave us to make their own families. My husband and I work as a team always, or at least we try.  In a way, I suppose the kids get more than 100% because they have parents who are partners and love each other very much.  When you have a team backing you instead of just one person, you feel stronger.  Whether you have that partner now or you are waiting for the one God is preparing for you, I think it is important for all kids to see an example of that kind of love.