Hal and Melanie Young gave me a copy of My Beloved and My Friend as a gift. No review was expected.
In the first year of our marriage, my husband and I joined a multi-level marketing venture. The company had a training program that consisted of tape cassettes and books (it was a long time ago…). At the same time, we got custody of our two oldest kids (Ed’s bio-kids), ages 8 and 10 at the time, out of a high-risk situation. I found myself gravitating toward the marriage books, and I’m certain that I read at least 15 or 20 books on marriage from a Christian worldview. I grew up in an all-female household in the 70s and 80s, and the first time I read about submission, I threw the book across the room. No kidding. It took me days to pick it up again.
The network sales business wasn’t for us, but I still think God used that MLM to provide us with a list of Christian marriage books, and as the means to save our marriage. God’s providence is a mysterious thing.
It’s been a long, long time since I threw a marriage book, and I’ve read a lot of them. My husband and I are happy, committed, and pursuing God together. Out of all the books I’ve read about marriage, I am convinced that Hal and Melanie Young’s My Beloved and My Friend: How to Be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses is the best I’ve read. This is my new go-to for wedding gifts. (I do give books as gifts. I mean, the china bowl is going to get stored in a cabinet and will be broken by a not-yet-existing preteen, but sound marital counsel? That’s forever.)
My husband Ed and I had the opportunity to meet Hal and Melanie Young at the OCEANetwork homeschool conference in Portland this summer. We knew each other from a couple of groups online, but met for the first time in real life when we spent two days helping with their booth. They’re lovely people, with eight children, and mission-oriented hearts. If you ever have the chance to hear them speak, jump on it!
Anyway, they gave us a copy of My Beloved My Friend, and I loved it so much, I vowed to review it for you. The book is 257 pages of down-to-earth stories, advice, and biblical counsel. I love how the Youngs bring their counsel to the light of Scripture over and over. I also appreciate how practical and applicable they make it. Reading My Beloved My Friend is like sitting under the mentorship of an older couple.
The book is divided into five sections with two or three chapters per section:
- It is Not Good for the Man to be Alone
- Leaving and Cleaving
- How to be Married to Your Best Friend
- A Helper Suitable for Him
- In Sickness and in Health
- On Submission
- Fidelity and Loyalty are Not Mutual Funds
- Fill the Earth and Subdue It
- The Physical Aspect
- How to Have the Right Number of Children
- Have Dominion
- Money–Yours, Mine, or Ours?
- The Division of Labor
- In the Image of God He Created Them
- The Spiritual Aspect
- Being of One Mind
- How to Fight So You Both Win
I appreciate that each subject is illustrated with personal stories, experience, and other anecdotes, but Hal and Melanie Young also point to Scripture throughout. In each area of advice, you will be able to determine how they arrived at their conclusion–whether it be by Scripture, common sense, or personal opinion.
My Beloved and My Friend is a fabulous resource for Christian couples, and I highly recommend it!
You can find My Beloved and My Friend at:
Hal and Melanie Young’s Store: My Beloved and My Friend
Amazon: My Beloved and My Friend: How To Be Married To Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses
Christian Book: My Beloved and My Friend: How To Be Married To Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses
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Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
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As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
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2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, says:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
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You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.
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I have been so blessed in my marriage. Winning this would sure be a treat for my husband and I.
I love the Young’s writing & follow them online. This resource looks like a perfect resource for teaching a young married couples’ class! Please enter me in the drawing. God Bless 🙂
Duh me! This proves it is too early to be online! Please remove my comment asking to be entered in the drawing that does not exist! I will buy this book for that marriage class lol. I enjoy your blog! Keep up the good work:)
I just had to publish these, because you had good stuff to say about the Young’s work. 🙂 Thanks for reading my blog, Christine!