Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
Week 7: Chapter 6 — Marriage in the Household
Read Chapter 6 of Habits of the Household. Key passages: Ephesians 5:22–33; Genesis 2:18–25; Song of Solomon 2:1–7.
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In a book about parenting, Earley pauses to make a case that is both counterintuitive and crucial: the most formative thing you can do for your children is to love your spouse well. The marriage is the architecture of the home.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Earley's decision to include a chapter on marriage in a parenting book is itself a statement. What is he saying about the relationship between the health of a marriage and the health of a household? Do you agree?
2.He observes that many parents find their relationship drifting into a purely logistical partnership — co-managers of children, schedules, and finances rather than lovers and friends. Does this description feel familiar? At what point in your parenting journey did (or might) this drift begin?
3.Earley argues that a strong marriage is itself formative for children — that children who see their parents delight in each other, apologize to each other, and choose each other are being taught something profound about love, covenant, and restoration. What specifically are your children learning about love by watching your marriage?
a.What is one thing your children regularly see you and your spouse do well together?
b.What is one pattern in your marriage you would not want your children to replicate in their own future relationships?
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