Years ago, when my sons were small, we had a delightful friend at church who also had young boys. He often repeated to his sons his own father’s refrain to him: “Be a man!”

The author shares a humorous anecdote from his time as a missionary in a Cree village to illustrate the importance of partnership in marriage, underscoring that joy in marriage is derived from seeing it as God's act, committing to it willingly, even during tough times, and loving one's spouse selflessly, mirroring Christ's love for the church.