The family begins in a commitment of love.

If you were to hold a lump of dark green clay in one hand and a lump of light green clay in the other, you could clearly identify the two shades of color.

However, if you were to mold the two lumps together, kneading them thoroughly, you would see just one lump of green clay, at least at first glance.

Upon closer inspection, you could see the separate lines of dark and light green clay, yet it would be virtually impossible to separate the clay into two pure colors again.

That is an image of what it means for a husband and wife to become “one flesh.” Love binds couple together, especially as they knead out some of their differences and develop a life of mutual goals, activities and relationships.

A grandma once told her young granddaughter that Jim and June were coming for a visit. With eager anticipation, they baked special treats and cleaned the house thoroughly in expectation of their over night stay. Upon their arrival the little girl exclaimed with wide-eyed wonder, “Nanna, there are tow people. Someone came with Jim and June!” just like the well-blended clay, in marriage we are no longer two, but one.