The Tender Years Quotes

“I was acting like a child. Wanting his full attention. His declarations of love. I wanted to be his little princess, I guess. The one he worshiped and adored. Well, life's not like that. And after thinking it through, I actually wouldn't want it to be. We aren't put together in a marriage to stroke each other's ego. Marriage is a partnership. A blending of two lives working together. That's where the commitment comes in. It's a determination of the head - not the heart. No, I shouldn't say it that way. It still involves the heart. It still is based on love, but it's new kind of love. A mature love. One that doesn't ask, "What will you do for me?" but rather "What can I do for you?" or "What can we do for each other?”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years

“Without that forgiveness, that peace, no heart is ever happy. There is always an inner struggle. Pain. Only when God has been invited in-to manage one's life, to direct one's thinking, to be in control-can one ever get away from all the conflicts inside. We have to stop struggling against His will before we can find real joy.”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years

“We never know,” said her father, “when we pray for God’s protection on our children to what great lengths He will need to go to fulfil our prayers.”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years

“Prayer had worked.”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years

“Many of the girls wear simple dresses to church. We do not make a point of ‘dressing up,’ nor do we study one another to see what is being worn. Nor does God. It’s our hearts He views as we enter the doors to His church. Not our clothing.”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years

“be willing to back away and let Jenny establish the desired relationship with Jamison. Virginia had battled long and hard with her feelings and even now found it difficult to choke out the words. Jenny”
― Janette Oke, The Tender Years