“You get the red plate!”

On special occasions like birthdays, days when there has been an important personal victory or when someone is feeling particularly discouraged, eyes in our home are quickly drawn to a bright red plate on the supper table.  Along the edge of the plate is written: YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY.  The following explanation card came when we bought the plate, “The Red Plate is the perfect way to acknowledge a family member’s special triumphs, to celebrate a birthday, or praise a job well done, reward a goal achieved, or simply to say, YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY.  When the red plate is used, any meal becomes a celebration honoring a special person, event, or deed.  It is a visible reminder of love and esteem.”

Dr. James Dobson, psychologist, stated “self-esteem is the mainspring that slates every child for success or failure as a human being.  Today, enough evidence has accumulated to give you this formula: if your child has self-esteem, they have made it.  Enhancing esteem is pretty much a family matter, and if it doesn’t happen there, it’s doubtful it will happen anywhere.”

The Apostle Paul dedicated the last part of chapter 5 in the letter he wrote to the church in Ephesus to the family.  “You husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave His life for her to make her holy and clean - to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.  In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies.”

British artist Benjamin West tells how he first became aware of his artistic skills.  His mother had to leave him one day taking care of his little sister, Sally.  He found some bottles of colored ink and began to paint her portrait.  He made a huge mess!  When she returned, his mother saw the mess but picked up the paper, smiled and exclaimed, “Why, it’s Sally!”  She then stooped and kissed her son.  Benjamin would say, “My mother’s kiss made me a painter.”

How do we tell our children, our spouses or our friends, “You are valuable. YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY”  A love note on our wife’s pillow, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, a hug, time taken to listen to a child’s excited rambling, a soft touch in passing, a kiss.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.