"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” -Gen. 2:18
Last week, my son Eric asked Jennifer to be his wife. She said "yes!" They met in Nashville last year. They are a beautiful couple, inside and out. Jeanie and I had made the drive to Nashville to be there for the "post-asking party." We had a great time meeting Jen and Eric's friends who make up their community there in Nashville. Eric and Jen have been truly blessed by God and will be used greatly by Him as they make their home in Nashville. Eric commented, "Isn't it cool how God knows who we need to complete us?" It's more than cool; it's miraculous that God can orchestrate circumstances so that we line up with our perfect match.
In three weeks, my nephew Taylor and his finance Emily will be married. They have been dating for several years and are super excited to spend the rest of their lives together. They both graduated from LSU and have been involved with a campus ministry and other activities. They will be married in Lafayette at a beautiful southern mansion. But it's not about the wedding, it's about the marriage and these two will enjoy a solid friendship as partners forever.
More than thirty years ago, I asked Jeanie Beadle to be my wife. We'd met the summer of 1980 and were in engaged that October. All I knew was that I loved her and needed her to complete me. Were we ready to get married? Absolutely. Were we all set for the future? Not at all. On the other hand, sure we were. God had it all covered. In hindsight, he had orchestrated a phenomenal plan for us. But at the time, we had little money in our checking account, lived in a tiny apartment and shared our little Datson 210. But God recognized that we were lonely on our own and brought us together forever.
My mom, Mildred, met my dad, Pelham, in the early 1940's. They quickly fell in love and married. After over 45 years of marriage with four boys and many grandchildren, my dad passed away in 1988. But my mom is still madly in love with her man. God sent him to complete my mom and she still loves him dearly. Sure, the option exists to move on but she's chosen to keep true to him.
What's the common factor in these four relationships? God. He's in the business of pairing up couples to be completed. Is it OK to be single? Absolutely. God is sufficient to meet every need. But, for some reason, when God created man, he saw there was a void. And then he created the miracle called woman to complete the man (and the woman). And he didn't just create a woman, he created THE woman necessary to be suitable for the man. In other words, he custom built the woman for the man. Amazing.
And God has been in the customizing business ever since. He matches men with women. We sometimes make the process difficult when we grow impatient and force the issue. But in the powerful concept called "waiting," we become the recipients of His perfect will. God pairs up "suitable helpers" and the process rolls on and on.
So, Eric and Jen, enjoy your engagement, as your hearts grow even closer; Taylor and Emily, an early congratulations as you begin this next chapter together; Jeanie, I love you more today than I've ever; and mom, thanks to you and dad for your example of being in love.
Mostly, thank you God for recognizing our deficiency and filling the void. Not just through providing our mates…
…but mostly, by sending Your Son, Jesus, that we might be complete forever.
By Eric Joseph Staples ©
www.parentingyourteen101.com
Monday, June 3, 2013
Suitable Helpers
"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” -Gen. 2:18
Last week, my son Eric asked Jennifer to be his wife. She said "yes!" They met in Nashville last year. They are a beautiful couple, inside and out. Jeanie and I had made the drive to Nashville to be there for the "post-asking party." We had a great time meeting Jen and Eric's friends who make up their community there in Nashville. Eric and Jen have been truly blessed by God and will be used greatly by Him as they make their home in Nashville. Eric commented, "Isn't it cool how God knows who we need to complete us?" It's more than cool; it's miraculous that God can orchestrate circumstances so that we line up with our perfect match.
In three weeks, my nephew Taylor and his finance Emily will be married. They have been dating for several years and are super excited to spend the rest of their lives together. They both graduated from LSU and have been involved with a campus ministry and other activities. They will be married in Lafayette at a beautiful southern mansion. But it's not about the wedding, it's about the marriage and these two will enjoy a solid friendship as partners forever.
More than thirty years ago, I asked Jeanie Beadle to be my wife. We'd met the summer of 1980 and were in engaged that October. All I knew was that I loved her and needed her to complete me. Were we ready to get married? Absolutely. Were we all set for the future? Not at all. On the other hand, sure we were. God had it all covered. In hindsight, he had orchestrated a phenomenal plan for us. But at the time, we had little money in our checking account, lived in a tiny apartment and shared our little Datson 210. But God recognized that we were lonely on our own and brought us together forever.
My mom, Mildred, met my dad, Pelham, in the early 1940's. They quickly fell in love and married. After over 45 years of marriage with four boys and many grandchildren, my dad passed away in 1988. But my mom is still madly in love with her man. God sent him to complete my mom and she still loves him dearly. Sure, the option exists to move on but she's chosen to keep true to him.
What's the common factor in these four relationships? God. He's in the business of pairing up couples to be completed. Is it OK to be single? Absolutely. God is sufficient to meet every need. But, for some reason, when God created man, he saw there was a void. And then he created the miracle called woman to complete the man (and the woman). And he didn't just create a woman, he created THE woman necessary to be suitable for the man. In other words, he custom built the woman for the man. Amazing.
And God has been in the customizing business ever since. He matches men with women. We sometimes make the process difficult when we grow impatient and force the issue. But in the powerful concept called "waiting," we become the recipients of His perfect will. God pairs up "suitable helpers" and the process rolls on and on.
So, Eric and Jen, enjoy your engagement, as your hearts grow even closer; Taylor and Emily, an early congratulations as you begin this next chapter together; Jeanie, I love you more today than I've ever; and mom, thanks to you and dad for your example of being in love.
Mostly, thank you God for recognizing our deficiency and filling the void. Not just through providing our mates…
…but mostly, by sending Your Son, Jesus, that we might be complete forever.
By Eric Joseph Staples ©
www.parentingyourteen101.com
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