Why Prioritizing Your Marriage Is The Best Gift You Can Give Your Kids

What if loving your spouse first is the most loving thing you can do for your kids and your country? We open with a hard look at modern parenting and explain why a spouse-first home gives children security, clarity, and a living picture of covenant love they can carry into their own marriages. It’s a call to realignment: step back from living through your kids, rebuild the partnership that holds the family together, and let your priorities teach what your words cannot.

We lean into Scripture for a sturdy framework. Titus 2 sketches a mentoring culture where older believers model self-control, integrity, and love, training the next generation to build wise, peaceful homes. From the Sermon on the Mount, we sit with the Beatitudes, anger and reconciliation, and the charge to be salt and light—practical guidance for turning conflict into peace and shining in quiet, consistent ways that honor God. The thread is everyday faith lived credibly, so that even critics find little to fault.

History adds weight and texture. We highlight FDR’s 1934 Christmas message on courage and unity, then connect President Truman’s claim that the world’s problems yield to biblical principles with Coolidge’s warning that our institutions rest on Scripture. The lesson is plain: private virtue sustains public order. A vivid Medal of Honor account of Corporal Orlando F. Boss underscores courage as love in action. We also own a sourcing mix-up and talk about verifying with primary documents—because truthfulness in small details builds trust in bigger ones.

If this resonated, share it with a friend who values faith, family, and country. Subscribe for more reflections on Scripture, marriage, and American heritage, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your voice helps spread light.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Opening Prayer
• 3:08 Marriage Priorities Over Parenting
• 5:47 Titus 2 And Roles In The Home
• 7:01 Beatitudes And Salt And Light
• 11:16 Righteousness Beyond The Pharisees
• 13:05 Psalms And Proverbs Reflections
• 15:10 Medal Of Honor Story: O. F. Boss
• 17:10 AI Mix-Up And Source Integrity
• 19:05 FDR’s 1934 Christmas Message
• 22:25 Truman, Coolidge, And National Faith
• 24:05 Calls To Support, Book, And Closing Prayer

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 0:02

Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Soul Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well, wherever y'all are, whatever part of the day you're in, I sure do appreciate you joining me. I know y'all have probably, especially this time of year, a million things vying for your attention. So I'm grateful that you spend a little of it here with me. Hopefully you get to listen to it with someone else. I think that always makes it a little better. For those of y'all who continue to share the podcast with others, tell others about it, thank you. For those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast, thank you very much. Father, thank you for today. Thank you for this day that you've made. Thank you for all the many blessings you bestow upon us.

SPEAKER_00: 0:49

Thank you for the ability to talk to you without the need for any other mediator or middleman or go-between other than your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for him.

SPEAKER_02: 1:06

Thank you for your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love and your mercy, grace, and your forgiveness of our sins because of your son. Help us to focus on you, Father, to focus on your son Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_00: 1:21

Not only during Christmas season, but all year long. Help us to spread Christmas that focus, those thoughts, those feelings throughout the entire year.

SPEAKER_02: 1:41

To make it our goal each day to look to you and to your son as eagerly as we do during this time of the year, but all throughout the year. Help us to truly love your son, Jesus Christ, and therefore to follow his commands, to love you with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be with our military, our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, those that go out in the rain and the cold, the snow, the sleep, ice, the dark, that protect us from evil men and women. Be with them, be with their families, guide them, surround them with your angels, protect them from evil of any kind. Be particularly with our ice agents and our military who are defending us from the drug cartels.

SPEAKER_00: 2:37

Keep them safe. Give them strength and speed, courage, wisdom, protection, perseverance. Be with their families also.

SPEAKER_02: 2:50

Help us as a nation to turn back to you, Father. And please guide my words here. In your son's name we pray. Watch over those listening, Father, please.

SPEAKER_00: 2:59

Your son's name we pray. Amen.

SPEAKER_02: 3:08

So we talk about this often on the podcast, and there's a reason because it's extremely important. Uh I was talking to a longtime acquaintance of mine recently. We were talking about the fact that a lot of people who are married today are more concerned about failing their kids than they are failing their spouse. If that's you, folks, as kindly as possible, you need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and kind of get your priorities sorted. Perhaps a little more harshly, but to the point, as we used to say in the Marine Corps, you need to square yourself away. You need to fix yourself. Our kids, if we really care about our kids, truly love them, then one day we want them to go off and have their own family, their own spouse, their own kids, right? You want them to have that fulfillment. You don't want them to be permanently attached to you. And those of y'all that are thinking about this right now, you can already see how untrue this is in society today. We have so many parents that want to live vicariously through their kids, sports, academics, extracurriculars, we have so many parents that are constantly attached to their kids at the hip. I think you can safely say that it's uh predominantly more women that want to maintain that relationship longer than they should. But I think you also have a lot of men who kind of use those kids. And as long as the kids are doing what they want, then you know, then they care about them. And then as soon as they're not, then they kind of discard them, trash them, throw them away. But but the point is that that this friend, acquaintance of mine that we were talking about is you should always put your spouse first because one day you want your kids to marry someone that's always going to put them first. And you want to mirror that importance, that relationship to them. And so we shouldn't be more concerned about failing our kids. In fact, that's a failure in itself. If we're more concerned about failing our kids than we are failing our spouse, not fulfilling our roles and responsibilities as a spouse, we're already failing our kids.

SPEAKER_00: 5:47

Marriage verse for today comes out of Titus 2.

SPEAKER_02: 5:52

Start with verse 1. As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers, instead they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely, and you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can't be criticized, then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

SPEAKER_00: 7:01

Scripture for today, get back into it. If I can get my Bible here.

SPEAKER_02: 7:16

One day, as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up to the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him and he began to teach them. Sorry, folks, I gotta get a pen real quick. He helps me follow along. And he began to teach them. God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those hearts whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you, because you are my followers. Be happy about it, be very glad, for a great reward awaits you in heaven, and remember the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. You are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

SPEAKER_00: 9:46

So if you ignore the least command and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

SPEAKER_02: 9:56

But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. But I warn you, unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that our ancestors were told you must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny. Psalm five verses one through twelve. O Lord, hear me as I pray. Pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness. You cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers. Because of your unfailing love I can enter your house. I will worship at your temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow. My enemies cannot speak a truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is fouled like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with flattery. O God, declare them guilty, let them be caught in their own traps, drive them away because of their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them sing joyful praises forever, spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord. You surround them with your shield of love. Proverbs one verses twenty four through twenty eight. I, wisdom, called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will mock you when disaster overtakes you. When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. When they cry for help I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. Orlando Adelio Boss Corporal US Civil War Fox Company, twenty fifth Massachusetts Infantry, U.S. Army, june third, eighteen sixty four, Cold Harbor, Virginia. Rescued his lieutenant who was lying between the lines mortally wounded. This under a heavy fire from the enemy. Accredited to Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, not awarded posthumously. Presented may tenth, eighteen eighty eight. Born july thirtieth, eighteen forty four, Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, died december twenty eighth, nineteen thirty one. Buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Location of Metal, Fitchburg Historical Society, Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

SPEAKER_00: 14:44

Orlando Fadilio Boss.

SPEAKER_02: 14:57

So I'm gonna have to make a retraction of sorts and apologize to y'all. It made me kind of chuckle. Hopefully, it'll make y'all chuckle a little bit.

SPEAKER_01: 15:08

I got, as my father has said, three years hoisted on the pacard of my own, I guess, arrogance or vanity or laziness, probably laziness.

SPEAKER_02: 15:20

And I've over the years of doing this podcast, especially at this part of the year, I've downloaded, saved a lot of different sources. The Christmas messages are one of them. But with the advent of AI, it's just so easy to type something into one of these AI search engines and get whatever you're looking for. And I think it does a pretty good job most of the time. But I have caught a couple instances where it's given me the wrong Christmas message for the wrong year. And so that happened. And a few days ago, I think, I read what I told you was the 1934 Christmas message, but in actuality it was the 1937 message. And so today, instead of the 1934 message or 1937 message, I'm going to go back and read you the one that's actually from 1934 that I actually have a copy in front of me looking at. So I know it's the right one. The reason this was kind of entertaining to me was because I had a professor uh in grad school who I love dearly, extremely tough, but he wouldn't even allow any sourcing on his papers from the internet. If you put it on there, it was automatic failure, or at least a huge deduction in points. I don't really remember which. He wasn't a conspiracy theorist or anything in this regard. He said you simply can't trust electronic sources because they're so easy to change and manipulate. He said you've you've got to have a hard copy in front of you when you're pulling these sources. And I think my professor's laughing at me right now because I didn't follow his instructions and I got caught. Anyway. December 24th, 1934, FDR Christmas greeting to the nation. This is the second year that I've joined with you on this happy occasion. Then, as now, with millions of others, we celebrate the happy observance of Christmas. The year toward which we looked then with anticipation and hope is passed. We have seen fulfilled many things that a year ago were only hopes. Our human life thus goes on from anticipation and hope to fulfillment. This year again we are entitled to new hopes and new anticipations. For all those who can hear but not see this gathering, let me explain that here before us in the park in front of the White House is the monument of a man who will live forever as the embodiment of courage. Andrew Jackson. His was a long, long life in the public service, distinguished and at times by a chivalrous meeting of problems and difficulties that attended that service, a fast belief in people and a profound love for them. His patriotism was unstained and unafraid. Carved into that monument is his expression of the necessity for union. That message grows in importance with the years. And these days it means to me a union not only of the states, but a union of the hearts and minds of the people and all the states and their many interests and purposes, devoted with unity to the human welfare of our country. Just across the street is the house he occupied one hundred years ago, the house the people in the country have built for their presidents. From its windows, I see this monument to this man of courage. It is an inspiration to me, as it should be to all Americans. So let us make the spirit of Christmas of 1934 that of courage and unity. It is the way to greater happiness and well-being. That is, I believe, an important part of what the maker of Christmas would have it mean. In this sense, the scriptures admonish us to be strong and of good courage, to fear not, to dwell together in unity. I wish you one and all here and everywhere.

unknown: 19:59

A very

SPEAKER_00: 20:00

Very, very, very Christmas.

SPEAKER_02: 20:11

I'd like to finish up with two quotes based on the fact that we read some of the beattitudes from Jesus Christ in our scripture reading this morning, and also from the Christmas message from FDR talking specifically about unity, the need for the hearts and minds of the people in all the states and their many interests and purposes devoted with unity to the human welfare of our country. The first is a quote from Harry Truman, President Truman, in a radio address he gave in 1949, titled Religion and American Life, or that was part of that program, I believe. And Truman said, I believe that every problem in the world today could be solved if men would only live by the principles of the ancient prophets and the Sermon on the Mount. And then the second one is from Calvin Coolidge, who was the 30th president of the United States. And it follows The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country. In order to truly have a functioning American nation, republic, we've got to have a people that almost universally follows the principles of Jesus Christ. And that's absolutely got to be true in our institutions. Right? And if we really wanted to fix the issues that we have inside our nation, if we would simply turn back to God and Jesus Christ, not only as individuals, but also in our public institutions, our military courts, constitutions, we would have a really good shot at doing that, maybe getting a little, gaining a little more of God's grace and time for us as a nation. Don't forget Orlando, Fidelio, if I'm saying that right, boss, corporal, who dragged his lieutenant out of the middle of fire.

SPEAKER_00: 22:46

And don't forget our military and our law enforcement, our firefighters, folks. If you are looking for a family-friendly middle grade read along the lines of Narnia, The Hobbit, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, that kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_02: 23:17

If you feel like trying out Countryside, I would appreciate it. You can get a copy on Amazon. Often the Kindle, I think, is 99 cents. But even if not, it's just a few dollars. But there's also hardback and paperback. What most would consider today a clean family fantasy. And if if you enjoy it, if your kids enjoy it, if you would leave a review for the first or the second book, I would greatly appreciate that. Also, if you feel like you're getting something out of the podcast each day, scripture on marriage or our faith, our heritage in America, if you could support the podcast for five or ten dollars a month, there's a website on the Buzz Sprout webpage under support. You can just go to the there's a link at the bottom of the podcast here and click on that. And I would really appreciate that. Both of those help immensely to continue the podcast and spreading the gospel in the history of our nation. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. God bless you all. God bless your families, God bless your marriages, God bless America, God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world. Listen, folks. We'll talk to you all again real soon. Looking forward to it.