On August 11, 2006, our youngest son, Josh, took Alison Anne Frattare to be his wife. Just as we adopted Angie Marie, the wife of our oldest son Jon, so we have now adopted Alison. These two young women have become our daughters through a holy act instituted by God.

When Angie married our son Jon, she took his name. She came under her husband’s covering just as the bride of Christ, the Church, came under Jesus. When Angie took the Bartlett name, she was, in a special way, adopted by our family.

Praise be to God! Paul and I now have two daughters by way of adoption! They are Christian women who, in their unique ways, imitate the faithfulness of other women before them. Like Eve with Adam, Sarah with Abraham, Ruth with Boaz, and Mary with Joseph, our adopted daughters have increased our family in a way that honors God and follows His orderly plan.

"Your people will be my people and your God my God," Ruth said to her mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 1:16 NIV). Later, to Boaz, Ruth said, "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer" (3:9). Then, the elders and all those at the city gate said, ". . . May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel" (4:11). In the appropriate time and a way pleasing to God, "Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife" (4:13). What a God-like way to bring hope into the world! Naomi’s son had died. But, her son’s wife—her daughter-in-law Ruth—chose to live out her life as the adopted daughter who would unite Naomi’s family with the family of Boaz. From the union of Boaz and Ruth was conceived Obed who was the father of Jesse and grandfather of King David. From the line of David, came Jesus—the very Son of God, our Savior!

Biblical marriage is very different from non-Christian marriage. Although the Greeks and Romans practiced marriage, it was not what God intended. A Greek wife had little freedom and was sometimes little more than a slave. Greek men viewed women as inferior from birth. A Roman marriage could be arranged against a women’s (or very young girl’s) will; she could also easily be divorced at the whim of her husband. It was common for the husband to frequent other partners for sex. The value of children was measured by whether they were conveniently wanted or not. A stable and generational culture was at risk in this chaos.

New life in Christ called for new patterns of marriage. (Ephesians 5:21-29). The inspired Saint Paul reminded the husband to love his wife and seek her personal development—a radically new idea in that culture. The wife was to respond with commitment and loyalty. Her submission is out of "reverence for Christ" and "as to the Lord."

In truth, a husband also submits. In his book, Men and Marriage, George Gilder notes that marriage changes a man. For the marriage to work, he can no longer live the "single" life but must, instead, commit to the needs of his wife and family. How does he do this? George Gilder writes, "In civilized conditions it is love, marriage, and the nurture of children that project a society into the future and make it responsible for posterity." (Copyright © 1986 by George Gilder, Pelican Publishing Co., Gretna, Louisiana, p. 16)

Sometime back in the 1970s, Shirley MacLaine was quoted in Look magazine, saying, "I don’t think it’s desirable to conform to having one mate and for those two people to raise children." Then she asked, "To whom does monogamy make sense?" (Dr. Dobson: Turning Hearts Toward Home, Copyright 1989 by Rolf Zettersten, Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas, p. 144)

Monogamous marriage makes sense to God! He is the Creator of this holy institution that impacts the world! It is through marriage—the union of God, a man, and a woman—that families are built. Families, in turn, build society. Only a God of order, victorious over chaos (1 Corinthians 14:33), could have such a perfect design for building a culture.

Paul’s and my daughters were not born to us in the usual way; rather, they were brought to us by way of marriage. Our sons chose Angie and Alison to be their wives and, through a holy act instituted by God, we have been blessed. Like Naomi who saw hope in her daughter-in-law Ruth, I see hope for generations in Angie and Alison. Only a God who is our Savior Jesus Christ could bring hope to generations of our family through such an adoption as this!