I love my future children...

Have you seen the film The King's Speech with Colin Firth?

You should.

Hands down, it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Even more than the fact that it is set in England and terminology like "top up" is utilized in the best of British accents, I enjoyed this movie because it portrayed so much about real life and the symbolism lying within history and family and friendship. (And I'm a huge fan of learning about WWII)

I won't spoil the plot for you, but I will tell you that this movie spurred me to think of my future children. Throughout the movie, a lot is revealed about the relationship of Colin Firth's character with his father. I began to think back upon the books I've read by John and Stasi Eldredge, Wild at Heart and Captivating. I reflected upon my life and relationship with the father figures in my life and similar relationships in my friends' lives. The Eldredge's books propose that a woman finds a great deal of her worth in her relationship with her father and a man finds his validation in his father. In the little time I have spent here on earth, I have found this to be quite true. The significance of a child's relationship with his or her father is tremendous. It is incredibly beautiful the way that God has designed this relationship to mirror His own relationship with us. The reality is that we see God through the lense of our earthly fathers until we have a personal relationship with Jesus, and even then he must change our hearts to see him without the faults our dads maintain. Have you ever considered the magnitude of this?

Our fathers can show us an image of God the father in a way that no other person can. Incredible. For this reason, I will hold fast to my high standards and my determination to "not stir up love nor awaken it til it pleases." (Song of Solomon 8:4) I believe with all that I am that God has ordered my steps and gone before me.

A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? Proverbs 20:24

If I am to be married some day, He has ordered my steps in that direction. I will not try to take things into my own hands and settle...disobey by dating someone who will do any less than live his life as a picture of God the Father for our children. What does the Father look like?Here's your answer.

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. " John 14:9b

I desire to marry a good, strong, Godly man who will walk in humility and love the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. That love will pour into our family and our children and perhaps, some sweet day, I will have the experience of seeing my (future) children follow Jesus. I want them to have a Father who will do nothing less than point them in that direction. I'm determined. I'm set. I pray that I will not budge.

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127:3