You're listening to the Allender Center podcast with Dr. Dan Allender.

This week, Dan is joined by his wife, Becky Allender, as they begin a new series about the beauty and brokenness that is a part of a healthy, life-giving marriage.

Dan and Becky talk about the difficulties they faced early in their marriage, as they began to learn what was truly required to leave their families of origin and grow in loyalty and love for one another.

A while ago, a friend of ours, dear friend of ours, wrote to my wife saying very, very gracious things about her kindness, faithfulness, hospitality.

And you, my wife, Becky, privileged me to be able to read the note that she wrote to you.

And at the very end, she said, I'm very aware that Dan has been

of immense importance for my development as a theoretician, teacher, and therapist. But I'm also aware

that he would be only half a man if he were not in relationship with you.

And that actually was such a gift to me to hear you spoken of in that way.

And actually I thought, she's giving me a lot of credit to even say I would

be half without you. That was a sweet gift. And let me just say that we've had a number of friends

over the last week, actually, say, Becky, you're writing on Red Tent Living and the blogs that are recast then on the Allender Center.

Dan's a good writer, but you're a better writer.

And one other people said, why is Becky not with you on some of these podcasts?

And it's like, well, I don't know.

I don't really, I'm really not thought about that other than to say,

it's so fun to be sitting with you at our dining table and talking with you about marriage.

So, hi.

Hi, honey.

Hi, honey.

I'd say it's probably a lot more fun for you to be talking on a podcast than me, but it's good to be here.

Well, what we thought we would do, because we had another stream that's involved in having you on this podcast, and that is we had the privilege this last year to do

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