Mom always referred to a daughter-in-law as a daughter-in-love, which was a positive way to begin well. The label “in-law” isn’t very warm or inviting but implies we’re related to each other only because the law says so. Maybe that’s why the better description is “daughter-in-love.”

My daughter-in-love Katy has been an asset to Hans and our whole family since the day she said “I do,” and because she and I have known each other for 7+ years, we’re well along in our relationship. Though living far apart has its negatives, there is one positive: when I visit, I “move in” and get to be part of the family. By fitting in with their busy household, I get the inside scoop on how life is going. I can learn what the stresses are and witness the joys.

Katy was the firstborn of 5 siblings in her family, and in that position has always been an excellent organizer and planner. But running a household with 4 children (ages 4 and under) presents minute-to-minute challenges her former life of order and control never knew. Sometimes all 4 need her at the same time that the phone is ringing and the pot is boiling over. So Katy, a naturally disciplined person, can struggle with such unplanned turmoil. On occasion she’s had to bend nearly to her breaking point. When that happens, though, she knows exactly what to do, because she’s not just my daughter-in-love. She’s God’s, too.

Her “–in-love” relationship with him differs from the one with me in that she never had to win him over. Though I find Katy very easy to love, if she hadn’t been, it might have taken longer for us to develop a relationship. As for God, it wouldn’t have mattered one bit. Her daughtership to him is an “-in-love” one, not because she’s wise, optimistic, and flexible (which she is), or because any law dictates it, but because he wants it that way.

All of us can be blessed with an “-in-love” connection that’s meaningful. The only thing we have to do is commit ourselves to God. Though we don’t become related to him through a marriage, we do by adoption, and because he chose us, his love is strong.

Being adopted, we are given all the rights of spiritual daughters-in-love (or sons-in-love), which include his stress-management help. So when Katy’s world closes in on her, she knows what to do. She calls on her Father and is sure he’ll come through for her, because “-in-love” relationships find pleasure in helping like that.

I’m so glad Katy is God’s daughter-in-love, and I’m also thankful he’s allowed her to be mine, too, not in quite the same way, but in a way that’s very, very nice.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”  (Ephesians 1:5)