Our Marriage is an Example for Our Children

In this episode of Relationally Speaking, Gary and I talk about setting a good example of marriage and relationships for our children. And talking about it in such a way that they desire to get married.

Key Insights on Marriage and Relationships
Marriage as a God-ordained covenant: The hosts emphasize marriage as established by God, highlighting its foundational role in raising children and maintaining stable families.
Setting a good example for children: Their children have observed and learned from their marriage, particularly in how they handle challenges and maintain a strong relationship.
Prayer as a central practice: Praying together regularly, often nightly, is a key pillar in their marriage. This practice extends to their children’s relationships, encouraging prayer as a way to manage stress and build unity.
Declarations and affirmations: The couple and their children use written declarations based on scripture to reinforce their commitment and shared values. These are creatively displayed on boards as daily reminders.
Science and declarations: They reference scientific experiments (such as water crystallization and particle physics) to illustrate how spoken words and declarations may influence reality, reinforcing the spiritual principle of speaking life and faith into relationships.
Practical Relationship Advice
Five core practices to strengthen marriage:

Pray together consistently.
Make and declare positive affirmations or declarations based on shared values.
Read and study relationship-focused books together.
Dream and plan future goals collaboratively.
Engage in enjoyable shared activities and ministry work.
Collaborative prayer beyond the couple: Praying for others—including family, friends, community, and national leadership—is encouraged to broaden perspective and spiritual connection.

Encouragement for couples in transition: The hosts acknowledge challenges such as physical separation due to work but emphasize maintaining connection through communication and shared spiritual practices.

Family and Life Context
The hosts have ten children, with five birthdays clustered in the two weeks following Christmas.
One daughter is engaged and set to marry in March; a son is seriously pursuing a committed relationship.
The couple shares ongoing life transitions, including managing an estate and job changes, highlighting the real-life context behind their relationship advice.
They express gratitude for community support during difficult times, including homelessness and financial challenges, attributing their perseverance to faith and mutual support.
Additional Themes
Purpose-driven living: They stress the importance of pursuing God’s purpose over a mundane existence, aiming to impact and minister to others.
Influence of media and society: The hosts critique societal messages that undermine marriage, encouraging intentional teaching and modeling of healthy relationships.
Use of technology and social media: They engage in live broadcasts, blogs, and online ministry to share their message and connect with others.

Update: The daughter that was getting married is now married with one son and another on the way. The son that was pursuing a serious relationship has been happily married since 2020. Gary and Penney are still happily married in 2025, celebrating 37 years of marriage last November.