Gross Your Kids Out!

Today, as we celebrate my parents 42nd anniversary, I picked out pictures of them kissing each other and dancing together to post on my Facebook page. When doing so, it reminded me of a time when my brothers, sister, and I were young kids and thought it was so gross to see our parents kiss and flirt with each other in front of us. We would say things like, “Ewe” or “Get a room” or “Gross” and then giggle. But, now as an adult those are the sweet moments I remember and think back on when celebrating their marriage and love for each other.

One of the best ways parents can show their children love is for them to love each other openly and put each other first after God. It says in Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.”

Whoa, wait a second here, I am to submit to my husband as to the Lord? Yes, I do. But did you read the rest? He is to love me as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her! Wow, that is some kind of unselfish love!

Our parents have been examples to us on what a successful marriage looks like. No, it was not perfect, but they showed us that love can overcome all that life brings to a marriage and it is stronger than any obstacle that we encounter and forgiveness is something that should come quickly and naturally in a marriage.

So now that we have been married 20 years and our girls see us give each other affection, they think it is so gross! But I know that they will probably do the same in front of their kids and gross them out too! So keep kissing and showing affection in front of your children and keep grossing them out because it is showing them the example of how to love one another.

Happy 42nd Anniversary Mom and Papa.