By Laurie Bedford

“Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.” Proverbs 22:6

I recently had the privilege to sit with my parents and a local newspaper reporter while she interviewed them for the Valentine’s Day issue. As she quizzed them about their long-lasting marriage (71 years), they shared some of how it works. The regular stuff — such as communication, working out disagreements, working together in good times and bad, and being on the same page with children and farm decisions.

We also talked about both of their sets of parents having lifelong marriages, and all four of their daughters being married to the same spouse for their lifetimes — 46 years for my oldest sister.

My conclusion is that they taught their children, by example, how marriage and the love of God works.

Growing up, I remember Dad working hard (all the time). But on Sunday mornings, we would all go to church together by 11 a.m. in town, 5 miles away. This example stuck with me and my husband, and I seldom miss a Sunday together. Yes, we were dairy farmers, just like our parents.

So many parents of young children these days have not had the wonderful example to follow as we did. Training for parenting is done so much by example, so I pray that the children today will find a mentor and example so that they can become wonderful spouses, parents and have families that our world needs now.

We had a little laugh. It was what my little sister told her class and teacher when asked, “What does your mother do?” Probably for a Mother’s Day card, the teacher expected shopping, cooking or cleaning. My sister’s answer: “Mommy sits on Daddy’s lap.”

Showing and sharing affection continues to help with their long marriage.

Jesus gave us a new commandment: “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13: 34b-35

Bedford is a member of the Mountain Valley Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International.