What The Ingalls Taught Me About Marriage

As a child, Little House on the Prairie was one of my favorite shows. I fell in love with Laura and her life, as I was a young girl myself. I’m fairly sure this girl right here was born in the wrong generation. Their simple living just fascinated me, it still does!

I admit, anytime there is a rerun on I just can’t pass it up. Watching them as an adult with children of my own gave me such a new perspective. One I never had before. I’ve realized just how many great life lessons there are in their shows, lessons today’s shows just don’t hold a candle to.

Forgiveness

Caroline Ingalls: When you love somebody, it’s worth putting your pride behind you.

If anyone was good at forgiving, it was Caroline and Charles. If they had a tiff, you could count on it being resolved quickly. They would quickly put their pride aside, forgive each other and move on. They did spend time deciding who was at fault, or pointing fingers. They just sweetly offered forgiveness.God wants our love to be sweet, soft-hearted and lovely. And He wants it overflowing with forgiveness. By offering forgiveness, we are offering the grace that God has given us. Don’t cling to prior offenses, tucking them in your pocket to use later. Simply wipe the slate clean as soon as the offense happens. This will not only set your husband free, but you as well. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {Colossians 3:13}

Humility

Charles: I still have my lady, and I want you to know that you mean more to me than anything in this world.
Caroline: Oh, Charles!

They both practiced humility. When Charles would make a remark about her beauty, she humbly replied, “Oh, Charles,” and tossed her head to the side in such a beautiful fashion. Later in the same episode the family remarks about how much she deserves a new dress because she never gets anything new. So humbled by their kindness, she breaks out in tears.

I’m slowly realizing that humility is one of the most important ingredients in marriage. To have humility and submission, our desire to come first must be put aside. We have to put it aside for the good of another. With humility, you’ll be sensitive towards others without complaining. When we come together honestly and humbly, it gives us space to forgive each other when necessary. And you’ll feel such thankfulness and gratitude at the jobs God assigns you.

She openly loved him

Charles Ingalls: Look at you.Caroline Ingalls: I must be a sight.Charles Ingalls: You are. Your face is dirty, your hair’s all askew, and your still the prettiest woman a man ever set his eyes on. The only thing I regret about being married to you is that I’ll never have the joy of asking you to be my wife again.

Caroline was always openly in love with her husband and honored him in front of their children. They would kiss and flirt and just be mushy together in front of the girls all the time. Caroline puts her hand print on each corn cake she makes, because Charles said that just having her hand print on it means he doesn’t need to add any other sweetener. Awwww! She’s seen playing with his hair when he’s resting in the grass. She laughs when he’s being silly, and she lifts him up in status when she talks about him to the girls. He’s the hero of the family, and she speaks of him to the girls that way. She gets the girls excited to see him come home, and pumps them up for the fun they’ll have when he gets back from hunting. She just loves seeing her family enjoy each other.

It’s really important that our kids can watch us giving our spouse love and respect. That they can see we are still pursuing our spouses heart. The byproduct is that kids witness their parents dating. When children see their parents giving each other time, affection, and respect it is a reassurance of our love and makes them feel secure.

Our kids are watching us. They are learning to be comfortable with affection and to be affectionate with their own partner in the long run. Kiss your husband, dance with him and hold his hand. pursue his heart. Show them your romance. What an absolutely perfect place for them to learn about love!

She allowed Charles to lead

Caroline Ingalls: My home is where you are. And you are the children are my family.
Charles Ingalls: Caroline Ingalls, I love you.

Caroline was the BEST at letting her husband lead without interfering. He was the head of the household and she respected him and his position. There were many episodes where Charles would make a decision that she didn’t quite agree with but, out of respect, she went along.

Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. {Ephesians 5:33} I’ve read this verse over and over again. it doesn’t say respect your husband only when you feel he deserves it, it doesn’t say he has to GIVE respect to GET respect and it’s certainly not up to us to deem when he is worthy of it. God was pretty clear with this verse, the wife MUST respect her husband.