Kendra Smiley Kendra's role-of-a-lifetime began over 35 years ago when she and her husband, John, were married. Together, they have raised three sons. John, a school teacher turned salesman, was a pilot in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves for 30 years. A natural-born entrepreneur, Kendra kept the home fires burning, while growing a home-based business, serving as a youth leader in her church for over 20 years, and staying active in her community. Her work as a mother, entrepreneur, church and community leader did not go unnoticed. In 2001, she was chosen as the Illinois Mother of the Year. "My best choice," Kendra gladly shares, "Was made right after I was married. That's when I realized my personal need for a savior. It wasn't enough to believe God was real, I needed to make the choice to receive him as my personal savior." The Smiley household started on a Christ-centered journey that continues to this day. Today, Kendra enjoys the fruits of her choices. She has written more than half a dozen books, spoken to thousands around the country (and abroad), founded and distributed a daily radio program -- today heard on more than 50 stations. Kendra connects with people whereever she is -- teaching individuals to make the next right choice. View all articles | Contact author

Marriage Matters

Let's take a closer look at some of the other points made in this TIME magazine article:

1. "Children who grow up in a household with only one biological parent are worse off, on average, than children who grow up in a household with both of their biological parents, regardless of the parents' race or educational background." (Princeton psychologist, Sara McLanahan)
2. "It's dismissive of the human experience to suggest that kids don't suffer, extraordinarily, from divorce." (President of the Institute for American Values, David Blankenhorn)
3. "The middle class has spent the past two and a half decades - during which the divorce culture became a fact of life - turning weddings into overwrought exercises in consumer spending, as if by just plunking down enough cash ...we can somehow improve our chance of going the distance."

As followers of Christ, we know why the marriage relationship between husband and wife is so important.  And we also know it takes hard work and a continual dying to ourselves to maintain a lasting and loving marriage. While these quotes from the article are poignant, they are a good reminder of why our marriage matters.

Originally published on www.kendrasmiley.com