Equal Partnership between Men and Women in Families

“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners” 

 

 

What is equality? Many believe that the term equality means “identity” but in reality it is not. Husband and wife are not identical and will never be. Each person brings their own uniqueness and bringing those individualist qualities together can create equality or oneness.

Interdependence is a term used in association with equality and oneness. Bruce C. Hafen has said “In the little kingdom of a family, each spouse freely gives something the other does not have and without which neither can be complete and return to God’s presence. Spouses are not a soloist with an accompanist, nor are they two solos. They are the interdependent parts of a duet, singing together in harmony at a level where no solo can go.” I love this analogy; I love music but I am definitely not a soloist; I love harmonizing and love the implications it has in marriage.

There are so many benefits of equal partnership. “Research has demonstrated that couples who have an equal partnership have happier relationships, better individual well-being, more effective parenting practices and better-functioning children. Researchers have also consistently found that couples who share power are more satisfied and have better overall marital quality than couples where one spouse dominates.”

Families are so important and one of the most important work we will be a part of. Marriage is hard work, becoming one is critical to successful marriages and families