the bow, the cord, and the arrows

"As unto the bow the cord is,
So unto the man is woman,
Though she bends him, she obeys him,
Though she draws him, yet she follows,
Useless each without the other!"

Longfellow: The Song of Hiawatha

we recently heard the beauty of the opening stanza of this poem during one of the sessions at our Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway (www.FamilyLife.com/weekend).  

it's a beautiful picture of oneness that God designed for marriage to be; a picture of tension yet harmony. it's a beautiful picture of how marriage should be. but the serendipitous moment for me came when I realized this picture in the light of the following verses:

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb, a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

    are the children of one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

    who fills his quiver with them!

  He shall not be put to shame

    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

God's perfect plans for your kids are best lived out when you and your spouse are in perfect harmony.  

the bow, the cord, and the arrows have a purpose and they work together beautifully when used properly. I agree with Hiawatha, "Useless each without the other!"