THE BAXTERS ARE A family most of us know and love – even if they are fictional. Years ago when I began writing about John and Elizabeth Baxter and their six adult children, I realized God had given me characters we can all identify with.
We see ourselves in the Baxter Family.
And so it was that on the tenth book with the Baxters, a book called “Forever”, Elizabeth Baxter took a moment and penned something special for her kids. Something they could hold onto and remember as they married and journeyed through the seasons of life.
She called it her “Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage.”
As soon as “Forever” hit stores, I began to hear that you loved Elizabeth Baxter’s marital advice. The ten secrets resonated with you. They made sense.
Because of the tremendous response, I emailed the list to thousands of you over the years who have asked to see her advice once again.
But you wanted more. A deeper look. Examples and scenarios showing how Elizabeth’s advice might be implemented in your marriage. Finally, I knew it was what I had to do. Take Elizabeth’s “Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage”, and hone them, strengthen them, expand them so that they might truly impact you.
That’s what you will find here.
Because Elizabeth Baxter is a fictional character, I have set these ten secrets in the midst of a new short story. A time when Elizabeth was pondering her marital advice and knowing it needed to be expanded.
In that sense, what you are about to read is fiction.
But in every other way, this advice is extremely practical. I believe that as you read this novella you will see the godly reason for each of Elizabeth’s ten secrets. You will know how to incorporate this advice into your marriage. You will have ideas to help your friends use this wisdom in their marriages.
If you loved the Baxter Family, or if you’re just meeting them for the first time, this will help you see what made these characters so special. What made them love the way they loved and live the way they lived. The reason was this: They understood the ten secrets. They made them a part of their lives.
Now you can do the same.
And in the process, I pray you find an extraordinary love. One you may only have dreamed about before this.
Thanks for reading.
Love and joy,
Karen Kingsbury
www.KarenKingsbury.com
Dedicated to my husband, Don. You are my Prince Charming and you always will be. When it comes to the beautiful love shared between Elizabeth and John Baxter, thanks for being the one person who knows there’s nothing fictional about the ten secrets to a happy marriage. Elizabeth’s secrets are really ours. We’ve lived them out for twenty-seven years and I pray God will let us keep perfecting them for decades to come. You are my hero, honey. The wind beneath my wings. I’m so thankful for you. May God always be at the center of our love, our lives, and our family. I love you always and forever.
Bloomington, IN – 2002
Bright sunshine streamed through the window and robins sang to each other from a tree just beyond the Baxter house. Elizabeth Baxter slipped her Bible back into her nightstand, leaned back in her cushioned chair and breathed deep. A new day was God’s reminder of His faithfulness. Like the Bible verses she read today from Lamentations – His mercies really were new every morning.
Elizabeth’s chair was set up in a nook in their bedroom. The nook had a floor-to-ceiling window that faced the front lawn, a handful of grand maple trees, and their stretch of driveway. Elizabeth believed it was the best view in the house. Perhaps the best view in Bloomington.
She remembered sitting in this chair through the years, and all the memories she had made in it. Spending time in God’s Word, feeding her children, reading to them, watching them play in the leaves, building snowmen, living life. One of her most treasured gifts was this place in the house.
It was her escape, and her special area.
Elizabeth breathed in deep and smiled. The house was silent, it always had been since their youngest, Luke, left for college. Sure the kids came by every once in a while. They tried to meet as often as possible for dinners. They would talk about life and faith; the important things in this world.
Elizabeth turned and looked at her husband, John. He was still asleep, but he was just as handsome as the day they met. She studied him. The way he breathed. His tan, rugged skin, and his brown hair showing hints of age. She loved everything about him. Thank you, God for John. For his leadership in my life. For making our marriage so strong. I am so grateful.
The sun was higher in the sky now and there was work to do. Elizabeth stood and tiptoed across the floor. It was not yet seven, and she didn’t want to wake John. He’d had a late shift at the hospital and just fell asleep a few hours ago.
Elizabeth had always been an early riser for one reason – she loved mornings. There was a peacefulness and serenity in the air, the perfect atmosphere to talk to God and contemplate the day. She put her robe on and stepped into her slippers. The house felt cozy, but outside autumn had dropped temperatures to the mid-50s.
Of course, the cool air wouldn’t stop Bloomington, Indiana from being busy. Saturdays in the fall meant a day full of activities around town. Little Kickers Soccer Games, Farmers Markets, a CKT play, all of it was part of the exciting thriving culture in their small town this time of year.
Cole, Elizabeth’s grandson, had a soccer game later today, and after that Elizabeth was certain that the family would all come over for dinner. She mentally added a trip to the grocery store to her list of things to do. Despite the busy day ahead, the house was still and Elizabeth wanted to bask in the moment. On her way out of her bedroom, Elizabeth grabbed her Bible from the top drawer once again.
She walked downstairs, into the kitchen, and found a fresh bag of coffee beans. She grounded just enough of them and started a fresh pot. As the coffee brewed, Elizabeth turned her Bible to Proverbs. She was going through the book of Proverbs with her church, a Proverb to correspond with each day of month. Taking a seat at one of the kitchen chairs, she stared out the window. Speak to me today, Lord. Please. I need Your word constantly.
It was the 22nd of October, so today she was on Proverbs 22. She read through the verses and one in particular caught her eye. It was verse six, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” She pondered on this verse for a moment, and then continued the rest of the chapter.
When she reached
the end, she made her way to the cupboard and found her favorite mug. She filled the glass with the fresh coffee, added cream, and took a seat back at the table.
She looked again at the verse, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” She and John had always been intentional about instructing their children to do the right things. And they both knew that at some point, they had to trust their children to take on a relationship with Jesus as their own.
Elizabeth thought about some of the mainstays of their parenting over the years. She and John taught their family to respect all people, put others first, and serve whenever possible. They constantly told their kids these words:
“You are Baxters. That name means something. When you go out into this world, you represent that Baxter Family, and most importantly, you represent Christ.”
At this point in their lives, with all of the children out of the house, it was more difficult to instruct them, at least on a day-to-day basis. But that didn’t mean their teaching and parenting was finished.