For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
The Hebrew word used here for "one" is echad. It's the same word used in Deuteronomy 6:4, where it says, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is one." I like considering the two passages together, because when it refers to God, it is referring to the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three, and yet one.
In marriage, it is two who are one. Becoming one does not take away the identity of each individual. Husband and wife are each uniquely gifted. Marriage unifies the two. The verb that shares the root of echad is achad, and it means "to unify". It means taking unique, separate individuals, and bringing them together, to compliment and strengthen one another.
What unique strengths am I bringing to our marriage? Am I building up my husband's unique qualities? How can our gifts compliment each other so that rather than pulling in separate directions, we are truly one?
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