Shannon here: Caryl McAdoo shares insight into Biblical marriage, along with a glimpse into her latest Historical Romance, The King’s Rescue. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a e-book copy of Gone to Texas, U.S. only. Deadline March 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Caryl:
Wives, Husbands, and Love
Ron and Caryl McAdoo at the Lennox Mansion
Sometimes marriages are born strictly of convenience with no love involved. When Ron and I first moved to Red River County, we soon heard of the Lennox family. They used to own thousands of acres here, had a mansion in town where the last of them, an eighty-plus year-old spinster was brutally murdered.
I bring them up because I heard tell her father threatened to disinherit all of his three children—she had two brothers—if they ever married. They never did. I thought how awful! Why would a father do such a thing? Sometimes, I guess, rich ancestors think they can and should control their younger generations.
Such is the case in my newest historical romance, A KING’S RESCUE. It debuts in two days on the 19th!
The year was 1898, and in Monty’s case, his grandfather’s favorite and most capable grandson, the old man’s will stipulated if Montgomery had not produced an heir by his fortieth birthday, control of the family empire—along with the family mansion—would pass along to his older cousin.
The day was fast approaching, and his mother became desperate. I suppose mothers are like that but praise the Lord for precious old aunties who love you almost as much and who aren’t concerned more about the money than a wonderful, joy-filled life! Such as it was with Aunt Gwen.
While his mother paraded all the wealthy debutantes through their dining room, Gwen met a lovely
seamstress, Brooke, working at Viola’s boutique inside The Lowell House Hotel and invited her to lunch.
Were you aware that the Bible doesn’t command wives to love their husbands? It does not. Scripture instructs wives to be subject to their husbands, submissive, treating him as the head of the family that he is—even as she would submit unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22-23 and Colossians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3)
As a rule, women don’t like to hear that, especially those whose husbands don’t love them as Christ loves the church. Before God though, we wives are not responsible for them and their actions, only ours.
In First Peter, the third chapter starts with ‘Likewise, ye wives…’ and so I went back to the end of the second chapter to see ‘like what.’ The verses speak of slaves and masters, admonishing the slaves to do good toward the masters, whether they had a good master or a bad one. Likewise, ye wives . . .
If only we could trust God. If only we refrained from leaning to our own understanding and acknowledged God in our sad and hurtful situations . . . After all, isn’t He able? Isn’t He trustworthy? Isn’t He always there with us?
Can’t we believe He will never forsake us? That He is our refuge and shelter, our strong fortress in times of trouble?
My dear Brooke in THE KING’S RESCUE had her own dire situations to deal with when she met Aunt Gwen . . . Her ailing mother and their home and place of employment being sold out from underneath them had her desperate. And God sent her to meet Monty, the king of cotton, a perfect stranger.
I believe love is a choice. Yes, we have physical stirrings when we meet a handsome, kind fellow who acts fondly toward us, and if he loves us as Christ does the church, it’s easy to submit, easy to respect and honor him. However, our obedience to God shouldn’t depend on our husband’s actions.
I was blessed as a sixteen-year-old when Father God brought me into Ron McAdoo’s life. He told his mother after our second date he was going to marry me. I had a good man from the start.
I cannot imagine being married to anyone else even though he wasn’t saved back then. I thought he was, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant with our third child when we were twenty-five that he actually asked Christ into his heart.
Things got SO MUCH better! Not because of anything I’d done certainly, but because God the Father blessed us and kept us. He showered us with His mercy and grace! That can be the only reason we have enjoyed fifty-six years together. May I encourage you to trust your Maker?
I can’t imagine how hard it would be, submitting to a man who doesn’t act like he loves you, but it is God’s good and perfect will. In First Corinthians 7:10 “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband” the Apostle Paul makes sure the hearers know it is the Lord, not him saying it.
It certainly is not an unforgivable sin either, if you’ve already left. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, right? Yes! Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
I hope THE KING’S RESCUE will have you cheering by its end.
Love never fails.
Ron and Caryl McAdoo at the Lennox Mansion
Question for Readers? How did you meet your spouse? Or if you aren’t married, then your best friend? Or what’s your opinion on a marriage of convenience?
About Caryl: Award-winning hybrid author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory. Her best-selling, award-winning novels garner hundreds of 5-Star reviews from readers around the world. Her popular historical Christian romance family sagas top the favorites list, but she also writes Christian contemporary romance, Biblical fiction, historical mystery, and for young adults and mid-grade booklovers. Fans often count Caryl’s characters friends. The prolific writer loves singing new songs the Lord gives her as much as penning tales—hear a few at YouTube! Married to Ron over fifty-six years, she has four children and twenty-eight grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door. Learn more & connect:
Caryl’s Bookbub Caryl’s Website Caryl’s Newsletter
Caryl’s YouTube (Caryl’s new songs!) Caryl’s Blog
Caryl’s Facebook Caryl’s X Caryl’s Goodreads
Caryl’s Pinterest Caryl’s LinkedIn
About the book – The King’s Rescue: 
Those who wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth.
Hounded to wed or lose control of his fortunes, Montgomery Sebastian Sullivan III only thinks he’s had more women thrust at him than he can bear until his favorite aunt comes across a seamstress, Brooke Sicily, and invites her to dinner. The common woman is wholly unsuitable, so says the man’s mother, but a spark does ignite. Will the rich man forsake his mistress and take a bride? Will he take one in time? The clock is ticking . . . but God’s timing is perfect!
Longing for a copy of The King’s Rescue? Interested in Caryl’s other books?
Get your copy/copies now!
The King’s Rescue Caryl’s Books
Come back Feb 26th for Susan Braun!
After my divorce, I had zero interest in ever dating or falling in love again. A librarian friend of mine introduced me to a man that she had known since she was a kid, thinking he could give me some advice about a situation I was in. We became friends and I would see him at the library a few times a week when I took my kids for programs. He helped me out with a couple of things around the house too. After two years of friendship, he called me one day and told me his car wouldn’t start, and he needed to take a friend to a chemo appointment. I ended up driving them, and we spent a lot of time talking. I ended up taking them to appointments for about a month while he tried to find parts to fix his car, and the more time we spent together, the more I fell for him. He was widowed and hadn’t dated anyone since his wife died, and I was so blessed to be the first and only! We’ve been dating almost 6 years and I love him more every day. He helps me take care of my kids and my widowed mom, and my family loves him as much as I do.
He certainly sounds like a good man and from what I hear, good men are hard too come by. I’m happy for you that God crossed your life paths.